Word Study
partitive
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun partitive has 1 sense
- partitive(n = noun.communication) Array - word (such a `some' or `less') that is used to indicate a part as distinct from a whole; Array is a kind of word
Derived form adjective partitive2
Adjective partitive has 3 senses
- partitive(a = adj.pert) Array - (Romance languages) relating to or denoting a part of a whole or a quantity that is less than the whole; "a partitive construction"
- partitive(a = adj.pert) Array - indicating or characterized by or serving to create partition or division into parts; "partitive tendencies in education" Derived forms verb part4, noun partitive1
- partitive(s = adj.all) separative - serving to separate or divide into parts; "partitive tendencies in education"; "the uniting influence was stronger than the separative" Derived forms verb part5, verb part4
CIDE DICTIONARY
partitive, a. [Cf. F. partitif.].
Denoting a part; as, a partitive genitive. [1913 Webster]
partitive, n.
A word or phrase expressing partition, or denoting a part; as, the phrase “of the team” in “half of the team”. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
partitive, adj. & n. Gram.
--adj. (of a word, form, etc.) denoting part of a collective group or quantity.
--n. a partitive word (e.g. some, any) or form.
--adj. (of a word, form, etc.) denoting part of a collective group or quantity.
--n. a partitive word (e.g. some, any) or form.
Idiom
partitive genitive a genitive used to indicate a whole divided into or regarded in parts, expressed in English by of as in most of us.
Derivative
partitively adv.
Etymology
F partitif -ive or med.L partitivus (as PARTITE)
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