Adjective Meaning
/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent.
nounA dependent; an accessory.
Sentence Examples
'-osity' is an abstract noun word ending created from the ending of an '-ous' adjective.
Things that modify nouns (adjective, or adjectival equivalent).
Don't forget that the adjective must agree with its noun.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the phrase 'blue sky,' the word 'blue' is an ____ describing the sky.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the phrase 'beautiful flowers', the word 'beautiful' is an ____.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""They'll have to invent new adjectives when I come back. You wait!""
— 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 8:
""We have fallen into the culture of adjectives and adverbs, and we have forgotten the strength of nouns," he said."
— 2019 September 24, Jessie Yeung, quoting Pope Francis, “Pope Francis loves nouns but is ‘allergic’ to adjectives”, in CNN, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2019:
"The Brazilian football legend, who passed away in December, has been added to the Portuguese edition of the Michaelis dictionary as an adjective to describe someone or something “out of the ordinary.”"
— 2023 April 27, George Ramsay, “Pelé added to Portuguese dictionary as an adjective for ‘out of the ordinary’”, in CNN, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2024:
"it must be an adjective of dain"
— 1655, Thomas Fuller, The History of the University of Cambridge, since the Conquest, [London]: [[…] Iohn Williams […]], →OCLC:
"The whole English law, substantive and adjective."
— 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter X, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the phrase 'blue sky,' the word 'blue' is an ____ describing the sky.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the phrase 'beautiful flowers', the word 'beautiful' is an ____.