prepositive

American  

[pree-poz-i-tiv] / priˈpɒz ɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. (of a word) placed before another word to modify it or to show its relation to other parts of the sentence. In red book, red is a prepositive adjective. John's in John's book is a prepositive genitive.

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noun

1. a word placed before another as a modifier or to show its relation to other parts of the sentence.

prepositive British  

/ priːˈpɒzɪtɪv /

adjective

1. (of a word or speech element) placed before the word governed or modified

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noun

1. a prepositive element

Other Word Forms

• prepositively adverb

Etymology

Origin of prepositive

First recorded in 1575–85, prepositive is from the Late Latin word praepositīvus prefixed. See preposition ¹, -ive

Example Sentences

The prepositive syllable im, when followed by a small vowel, is written im, as in imlich to lick, imcheist perplexity.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

This will account for the prepositive article "Le" prefixed to the Norman Bigods, the descendants of those who followed William the Conqueror into England, such as Hugh Le Bigod, &c.

From Notes and Queries, Number 13, January 26, 1850 by Various

The use of the infinitive without the prepositive "to", is frequently extended beyond present usage, especially in `Sordello' and `The Ring and the Book'.

From An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry by Corson, Hiram