complementizer

American  

[kom-pluh-muhn-tahy-zer] / ˈkɒm plə mənˌtaɪ zər /

noun

Linguistics.

1. an element or elements marking a complement clause, as that in We thought that you forgot, for … to in For you to go all the way there would be silly, or possessive … -ing in Barbara's leaving so early worried them.

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complementizer British  

/ ˈkɒmplɪmənˌtaɪzə /

noun

1. generative grammar a word or morpheme that serves to introduce a complement clause or a reduced form of such a clause, as that in I wish that he would leave

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Etymology

Origin of complementizer

complement + -ize + -er ¹