augmentative

[ awg-men-tuh-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to augment.
2. Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting increased size or intensity. In Spanish the augmentative suffix -ón is added to a word (as silla “chair”) to indicate increased size, as in sillón “armchair.”

noun

1. Grammar. an augmentative element or formation.

augmentative

/ ɔːɡˈmɛntətɪv /

adjective

1. tending or able to augment
2. grammar
   1. denoting an affix that may be added to a word to convey the meaning large or great; for example, the suffix -ote in Spanish, where hombre means man and hombrote big man
   2. denoting a word formed by the addition of an augmentative affix

noun

1. grammar an augmentative word or affix

Derived Forms

• augˈmentatively, adverb

Other Words From

• aug·menta·tive·ly adverb
• nonaug·menta·tive adjective noun
• unaug·menta·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of augmentative¹

1495–1505; augment + -ative; replacing augmentatif < Middle French

Example Sentences

A diminutive hardly seems the right kind of word under the circumstances; an augmentative would, perhaps, have been better.

From Project Gutenberg

Note:—The rle of augmentative and diminutive suffixes in English is vastly less important than in Italian.

From Project Gutenberg

The augmentative forms, pre-eminently common in the Italian language, often carry with them a depreciating sense.

From Project Gutenberg

The MS. has Garees, a word not to be found in the dictionary, but evidently an augmentative of gara, a heron.

From Project Gutenberg

For the word wizard, from witch, see the section on augmentative forms.

From Project Gutenberg