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disjunctive - 5 dictionary results

dis⋅junc⋅tive

  [dis-juhngk-tiv]
Use disjunctive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. serving or tending to disjoin; separating; dividing; distinguishing.
2. Grammar.
a. syntactically setting two or more expressions in opposition to each other, as but in poor but happy, or expressing an alternative, as or in this or that.
b. not syntactically dependent upon some particular expression.
3. Logic.
a. characterizing propositions that are disjunctions.
b. (of a syllogism) containing at least one disjunctive proposition as a premise.
–noun
4. a statement, course of action, etc., involving alternatives.
5. Logic. disjunction (def. 2a).
6. Grammar. a disjunctive word.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < LL disjunctīvus placed in opposition, equiv. to L disjunct(us) (see disjunct ) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
dis⋅junc⋅tive⋅ly, adverb

dis⋅junc⋅tion

  [dis-juhngk-shuhn]
–noun
1. the act of disjoining or the state of being disjoined: a disjunction between thought and action.
2. Logic.
a. Also called disjunctive, inclusive disjunction. a compound proposition that is true if and only if at least one of a number of alternatives is true.
b. Also called exclusive disjunction. a compound proposition that is true if and only if one and only one of a number of alternatives is true.
c. the relation among the components of such a proposition, usually expressed by AND or V.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME disjunccioun < L disjunctiōn- (s. of disjunctiō) separation, equiv. to disjunct(us) (see disjunct ) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To disjunctive
dis·junc·tive   (dĭs-jŭngk'tĭv)   
adj.  
  1. Serving to separate or divide.
  2. Grammar Serving to establish a relationship of contrast or opposition. The conjunction but in the phrase poor but comfortable is disjunctive.
  3. Logic
    1. Of a proposition that presents two or more alternative terms.
    2. Of a syllogism that contains a disjunction as one premise.
n.   Grammar
A disjunctive conjunction.
dis·junc'tive·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Disjunctive

Dis*junc"tive\, a. [L. disjunctivus: cf. F. disjonctif.]

1. Tending to disjoin; separating; disjoining.

2. (Mus.) Pertaining to disjunct tetrachords. "Disjunctive notes." --Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Disjunctive conjunction (Gram.), one connecting grammatically two words or clauses, expressing at the same time an opposition or separation inherent in the notions or thoughts; as, either, or, neither, nor, but, although, except, lest, etc.

Disjunctive proposition, one in which the parts are connected by disjunctive conjunctions; as it is either day or night.

Disjunctive syllogism (Logic), one in which the major proposition is disjunctive; as, the earth moves in a circle or an ellipse; but in does not move in a circle, therefore it moves in an ellipse.

Disjunctive

Dis*junc"tive\, n. (a) (Gram.) A disjunctive conjunction. (b) (Logic) A disjunctive proposition.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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