English Explanatory Dictionary

adjective

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent.
  2. A dependent; an accessory.
adj
  1. Adjectival; pertaining to or functioning as an adjective.
  2. Applying to methods of enforcement and rules of procedure.
  3. Needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
  4. Incapable of independent function.
verb
  1. To make an adjective of; to form or convert into an adjective.
  2. To characterize with an adjective; to describe by using an adjective.

Pronunciation

/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/ /ˈæd͡ʒ.ɛk.tɪv/ /ˈæd͡ʒ.ək.tɪv/ /ˈæd͡ʒ.ə.tɪv/ En-us-adjective.ogg /əɖˈdʒɛk.ʈɪʋ/

Word forms

adjective adjectives adjectiving adjectived

Etymology

From Middle English adjectif, adjective, from Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectivus, from adiciō + -īvus, from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + iaciō (“throw”). The Latin word adiectivus in turn was a calque of Ancient Greek ἐπιθετικόν (epithetikón, “added”), a derivative of the compound verb ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi), from which also comes epithet.

Synonyms

adjective adjective noun adnoun describing word description word noun adjective adjectival procedural dependent derivative adjectify adjectivize

Antonyms

substantive

Derived words

adjectival adjective clause adjective dye adjectivehood adjective law adjectiveless adjectively adjective patterns adjective phrase adjective pronoun adjective verb adjectivism adjectivitis adjectivity adjectivization common adjective deadjectival nonadjective overadjectived phrasal adjective predicate adjective proadjective proper adjective unadjectived verbal adjective い-adjective な-adjective
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