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

Such, however, is not the case, George being his only Christian appellative.

From Hair-Breadth Escapes The Adventures of Three Boys in South Africa by Adams, H.C.

Subsequently, this name of office was applied to created angels and to men employed, and because they were employed, as messengers; and it finally came to be used as a personal appellative.

From The Messiah in Moses and the Prophets by Lord, Eleazar

It is indeed easy to conceive, that Simon might have been commonly distinguished by either appellative, but this we can only conjecture; neither Evangelist adds a word to explain the point.

From An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by Greenleaf, Simon

In referring to the root ark, erk, I have omitted the Ir. earc, water, the appellative most nearly concerned.

From The River-Names of Europe by Ferguson, Robert