appellative

American  

[uh-pel-uh-tiv] / əˈpɛl ə tɪv /

noun

1. a descriptive name or designation, as Bald in Charles the Bald.

2. a common noun.

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adjective

1. designative; descriptive.

2. tending toward or serving for the assigning of names.

   the appellative function of some primitive rites.

3. pertaining to a common noun.

appellative British  

/ əˈpɛlətɪv /

noun

1. an identifying name or title; appellation

2. grammar another word for common noun

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adjective

1. of or relating to a name or title

2. (of a proper noun) used as a common noun

Other Word Forms

• appellatively adverb
• appellativeness noun

Etymology

Origin of appellative

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Late Latin appellātīvus. See appellate, -ive

Example Sentences

Now a taxidermied water buffalo head — the ox — watches from above the bar, while the appellative bull is represented across from it in gleaming metal.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2023

GEORGE'S, the name being suggested, in the first place, by the baptismal appellative of their virtual founder and Hon. Sec.,

From The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion by Edge, Frederick Milnes

After the manner of nouns appellative; in a manner to express whole classes or species; as, Hercules is sometimes used appellatively, that is, as a common name, to signify a strong man.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

Hence appellative words bearing any affinity with the names of the deceased are presently abolished.

From The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies by Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)

In many instances a word meaning river or runner remained the proper name of one river, without ever rising to the dignity of an appellative.

From Lectures on The Science of Language by Müller, Max