copulative

[ kop-yuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to unite or couple.
2. Grammar.
   1. involving or consisting of connected words or clauses:

      a copulative sentence.

   2. pertaining to or serving as a copula; serving to connect subject and complement:

      a copulative verb.

   3. serving to connect nouns, noun phrases, verbs, clauses, etc.:

      a copulative conjunction.

   4. of the dvandva type:

      Bittersweet is a copulative compound.

3. of or relating to sexual intercourse.

noun

1. Grammar. a copulative word.

copulative

/ ˈkɒpjʊlətɪv /

adjective

1. serving to join or unite
2. of or characteristic of copulation
3. grammar (of a verb) having the nature of a copula

Derived Forms

• ˈcopulatively, adverb

Other Words From

• copu·lative·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of copulative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English copulatif, from Middle French copulatif, copulative, from Late Latin cōpulātīvus; copulate, -ive

Example Sentences

The copulative prowess of a 17th-century Moroccan emperor, for instance, was the subject of a study by German and Austrian mathematicians who won a prize.

From The Guardian

On my recent foray into the universe of Tinder, I encountered plenty of sexed-up New Yorkers eager after only a few texts to engage in almost any sort of copulative activity.

From New York Times

These should be followed by the copulative verb; after which should come the intransitive verb and its nominative in the different tenses, and the transitive with its object in the same way.

From Project Gutenberg

C. L. N. A. I. J. Bl. says the omission of the copulative wa in line 4 of the original is characteristic of Khayyam.

From Project Gutenberg

To speak in academical language, the conjunction in this case is the disjunctive 'or,' not the copulative 'and.'

From Project Gutenberg