copulative

[ kop-yuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to unite or couple.
2. Grammar.
   1. involving or consisting of connected words or clauses:

      a copulative sentence.

   2. pertaining to or serving as a copula; serving to connect subject and complement:

      a copulative verb.

   3. serving to connect nouns, noun phrases, verbs, clauses, etc.:

      a copulative conjunction.

   4. of the dvandva type:

      Bittersweet is a copulative compound.

3. of or relating to sexual intercourse.

noun

1. Grammar. a copulative word.

copulative

/ ˈkɒpjʊlətɪv /

adjective

1. serving to join or unite
2. of or characteristic of copulation
3. grammar (of a verb) having the nature of a copula

Derived Forms

• ˈcopulatively, adverb

Other Words From

• copu·lative·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of copulative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English copulatif, from Middle French copulatif, copulative, from Late Latin cōpulātīvus; copulate, -ive

Example Sentences

A conjunction copulative; a gallant match between your daughter and Raymond Mounchensey, young juventus.

From Project Gutenberg

The suspender of the larger copulative cell preserves its primitive form and becomes scarcely any larger.

From Project Gutenberg

That no number of connected singular nouns can govern a plural verb, unless they be connected by a copulative conjunction.

From Project Gutenberg

Murray admits of only the dis-junctive and copulative, and reduces the whole list of words to twenty-four.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a copulative conjunction, connecting the two members of the sentence—he will adopt if he can procure: Rule, as above.

From Project Gutenberg