adjective

A2 Topic:Communication

US /ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #30796

Meanings

1

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

In the phrase 'a red car', 'red' is an adjective.
2

adj
relating to or working as an adjective

The word is being used in an adjective form here.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · relating to or working as... adjectival

More adjectifyadjectivizeadnoun

Word family

Forms adjectives

Derived forms adjectivaladjectivehoodadjectivelessadjectivelyadjectivismadjectivitisadjectivityadjectivizationdeadjectivalnonadjectiveoveradjectivedproadjective

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

descriptive adjective
an adjective that describes a quality or characteristic of a noun

Adjective + noun

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.

adjectif Middle English adiectivus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Language & Linguistics

External links

# adjective

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 30796

## Meanings
1. a word that describes a noun, such as 'big' or 'happy'
2. relating to or working as an adjective

## Examples
- In the phrase 'a red car', 'red' is an adjective.
- The word is being used in an adjective form here.

## Synonyms
- adjectify
- adjectivize
- adnoun

## Derived Forms
- adjectival
- adjectivehood
- adjectiveless
- adjectively
- adjectivism
- adjectivitis
- adjectivity
- adjectivization
- deadjectival
- nonadjective
- overadjectived
- proadjective

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: adjectif
- Root: adiectivus

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Adjective comes from Middle English adjectif, adjective, from Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectivus, from adiciō plus -īvus, from ad- (“to, towards, at”) plus 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.

## Topics
- Communication
- Language & Linguistics

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