attributive

[ uh-trib-yuh-tiv ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or having the character of attribution or an attribute.
2. Grammar. of or relating to an adjective or noun that is directly adjacent to, in English usually preceding, the noun it modifies, without any intervening linking verb, as the adjective sunny in a sunny day or the noun television in a television screen.

noun

1. Grammar. an attributive word, especially an adjective.

attributive

/ əˈtrɪbjʊtɪv /

adjective

1. relating to an attribute
2. grammar (of an adjective or adjectival phrase) modifying a noun and constituting part of the same noun phrase, in English normally preceding the noun, as black in Fido is a black dog (as opposed to Fido is black ) Compare predicative
3. philosophy relative to an understood domain, as small in that elephant is small

noun

1. an attributive adjective

Derived Forms

• atˈtributiveness, noun
• atˈtributively, adverb

Other Words From

• at·tribu·tive·ly adverb
• at·tribu·tive·ness noun
• nonat·tribu·tive adjective
• nonat·tribu·tive·ly adverb
• nonat·tribu·tive·ness noun
• unat·tribu·tive adjective
• unat·tribu·tive·ly adverb
• unat·tribu·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attributive¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

In this line and the next the attributive clauses are separated from the antecedent: see note, l. 2.

From Project Gutenberg

Rnams follows its noun as would any other attributive word—“man plural” (whether two or a million) like “man white.”

From Project Gutenberg

Adjective clauses (relative, attributive) always follow, and most often directly, the noun they modify.

From Project Gutenberg

An Attributive is a word that connotes an attribute or property, as hot, valorous, and is always grammatically an adjective.

From Project Gutenberg

In the substantive verb there are two classes, of which only one is also common to attributive verbs.

From Project Gutenberg