partitive

American  

[pahr-ti-tiv] / ˈpɑr tɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. serving to divide into parts.

2. Grammar. noting part of a whole.

   the Latin partitive genitive.

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noun

1. Grammar. a partitive word or formation, as of the men in half of the men.

partitive British  

/ ˈpɑːtɪtɪv /

adjective

1. grammar indicating that a noun involved in a construction refers only to a part or fraction of what it otherwise refers to. The phrase some of the butter is a partitive construction; in some inflected languages it would be translated by the genitive case of the noun

2. serving to separate or divide into parts

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noun

1. grammar a partitive linguistic element or feature

Other Word Forms

• partitively adverb
• unpartitive adjective

Etymology

Origin of partitive

1510–20; < Medieval Latin partītīvus divisive, equivalent to Latin partīt ( us ), past participle of partīrī to divide ( see party) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Dr. Johnson seems to suppose that the partitive use of these words makes them nouns; as, "They have much of the poetry of Mecænas, but little of his liberality."—DRYDEN: in Joh.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold

The explanation generally given is, that of is partitive, and that the expression is equivalent to one friend of my friends.

From Higher Lessons in English A work on English grammar and composition by Kellogg, Brainerd

It is not a predicate adjective, but a partitive genitive after hwæt.

From Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Exercise Book with Inflections, Syntax, Selections for Reading, and Glossary by Smith, C. Alphonso (Charles Alphonso)

All is used with of, like a partitive; as, all of a thing, all of us.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

In all such expressions, the name of the thing divided, is understood in the partitive word; for a part of any thing must needs be of the same species as the whole.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold