adjective

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a word that describes a noun, such as 'big' or 'happy'

   In the phrase 'a red car', 'red' is an adjective.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to or working as an adjective

   The word is being used in an adjective form here.

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.

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