Meaning of the Word: Adjective
Definitions and Meaning in English
- Adjective (noun): A word that modifies or describes a noun, providing more information about it, such as its quantity, quality, size, color, or other characteristics.
- Adjective (grammatical term): A part of speech used to describe or qualify a noun, often to add detail, explanation, or emphasis.
History and Origin
The word adjective comes from the Latin word adjectivus, meaning “added” or “attached,” derived from ad- (meaning “to”) and jacere (meaning “to throw” or “to cast”). In its earliest use in English in the 14th century, the term referred to words that were “added” to nouns to provide more specific details. Over time, the use of adjectives became a key part of sentence construction, allowing for greater expression and precision.
Detailed Explanation
An adjective is a word used to describe or modify a noun or pronoun, giving more information about its qualities, appearance, or state. It answers questions such as “What kind?”, “Which one?”, or “How many?”. Adjectives are essential in providing context and clarity in both written and spoken language.
Examples of adjectives include:
- Descriptive adjectives: These adjectives describe qualities or features of a noun, like “beautiful,” “tall,” or “quick.”
- Quantitative adjectives: These adjectives indicate the amount or quantity of a noun, like “few,” “several,” or “many.”
- Demonstrative adjectives: These point to specific nouns, like “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those.”
- Possessive adjectives: These indicate ownership, such as “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “our,” or “their.”
- Interrogative adjectives: Used in questions, such as “which” or “what.”
Adjectives usually appear before the noun they modify (e.g., “a green apple”) or after linking verbs like “be” (e.g., “The apple is green“).
Example Sentences
- The blue sky looked beautiful at sunset.
- She wore a long dress to the party.
- The tall building was visible from a distance.
- He has many friends in the city.
- I don’t like spicy food.
- The young boy ran through the park.
- She gave me a gifted painting for my birthday.
- The quiet room was perfect for reading.
- His explanation was clear and easy to understand.
Synonyms with Short Explanation
- Descriptive: Referring to something that describes qualities or features, similar to an adjective’s role.
- Modifying: Changing or adding to a noun’s meaning, a function adjectives fulfill.
- Qualifying: Giving specific details about a noun, which is the purpose of an adjective.
- Defining: Clarifying or detailing the noun it modifies, akin to the work of an adjective.
- Attributive: Describing a noun’s attributes or characteristics, much like an adjective.
Related Words with Short Explanation
- Noun: The part of speech that a noun works with, as adjectives modify nouns.
- Verb: A word that expresses an action or state, working alongside adjectives in sentence structures.
- Pronoun: A word used in place of a noun, which can also be modified by adjectives (e.g., “his old car”).
- Adverb: A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often providing more detail, similar to an adjective’s function for nouns.
- Clause: A group of words that can function as a sentence or part of a sentence, often containing adjectives that modify nouns or pronouns.
Antonyms
- Noun: An antonym to an adjective, as nouns name things, while adjectives describe them.
- Verb: Unlike an adjective, which describes, a verb expresses action or a state of being.
- Adverb: While adjectives modify nouns, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Pronoun: Pronouns replace nouns, whereas adjectives describe them.
- Conjunction: A word that connects clauses or sentences, differing from adjectives, which modify nouns.