inflectional

American  

[in-flek-shuh-nl] / ɪnˈflɛk ʃə nl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in inflection.

   an inflectional ending.

2. Linguistics. pertaining to or noting a language, as Latin, characterized by the use of inflection, especially morphemic fusion or irregular morphophonemic alternation.

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Other Word Forms

• inflectionally adverb
• noninflectional adjective
• noninflectionally adverb
• preinflectional adjective

Etymology

Origin of inflectional

First recorded in 1825–35; inflection + -al ¹

Example Sentences

I call it a theory, but it is more than a theory, for it is the only possible way in which the realities of Sanskrit or any other inflectional language can be explained.

From Lectures on The Science of Language by Müller, Max

Sometimes applied also to such inflectional prefixes as the ge- of the German perfect participle.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Other philosophers imagine that the combination of roots to form agglutinative and inflectional language is, like the first formation of roots, the result of a natural instinct.

From Lectures on The Science of Language by Müller, Max

Nor is it necessary to distinguish between synthetic and analytical languages, including under the former name the ancient, and under the latter the modern, languages of the inflectional class.

From Lectures on The Science of Language by Müller, Max

If so, it is the latter d which is radical, and the former which is inflectional.

From A Handbook of the English Language by Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)