demonstrative
[ duh-mon-struh-tiv ]
/ dəˈmɒn strə tɪv /
|
adjective
characterized by or given to open exhibition or expression of one's emotions, attitudes, etc., especially of love or affection: She wished her fiancé were more demonstrative.
serving to demonstrate; explanatory or illustrative.
serving to prove the truth of anything; indubitably conclusive.
Grammar. indicating or singling out the thing referred to. This is a demonstrative pronoun.
noun
Grammar. a demonstrative word, as this or there.
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Nearby words
- demonstrable,
- demonstrant,
- demonstrate,
- demonstration,
- demonstration model,
- demonstrative pronouns,
- demonstrator,
- demonym,
- demoralize,
- demoralizing
Origin of demonstrative
1350–1400; Middle English demonstratif (< Middle French) < Latin dēmonstrātīvus, equivalent to dēmonstrāt(us) (see demonstrate) + -īvus -ive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for demonstratively
demonstrative
/ (dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv) /
adjective
tending to manifest or express one's feelings easily or unreservedly
(postpositive foll by of) serving as proof; indicative
involving or characterized by demonstrationa demonstrative lecture
conclusive; indubitabledemonstrative arguments
grammar denoting or belonging to a class of determiners used to point out the individual referent or referents intended, such as this, that, these, and thoseCompare interrogative, relative
noun
grammar a demonstrative word or construction
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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demonstrative
late 14c., "characterized by logic, based on logic," from Old French démonstratif (14c.), from Latin demonstrativus "pointing out, demonstrating," from past participle stem of demonstrare (see demonstration). Grammatical sense, "pointing out the thing referred to," is mid-15c. Meaning "given to outward expressions of feelings" is from 1819. Demonstrative pronoun is late 16c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper