copulative

American  

[kop-yuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv] / ˈkɒp yəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪv /

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.

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noun

1. Grammar. a copulative word.

copulative British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• copulatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of copulative

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

Example Sentences

Two or more nouns in the singular number, joined by copulative conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and pronouns agreeing with them in the plural.

From English Grammar in Familiar Lectures by Kirkham, Samuel

Every articulate language is composed of substantive, adjective and copulative ideas.

From Delsarte System of Oratory by Various

Other conjunctions having a copulative use are also, besides, likewise, moreover, and too; and the correlative conjunctions, both … and, not only … but also, etc.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.

And is said to be copulative because it merely adds something to what has just been said.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.

The copulative catac is also used in adding a smaller number to a bak, or 400, as for 450, hun bak catac lahuyoxkal, “one bak and ten toward the third score.”

From The Maya Chronicles Brinton's Library Of Aboriginal American Literature, Number 1 by Brinton, Daniel Garrison