demonstrative

[duh-mon-struh-tiv]

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.

Origin of demonstrative

1350–1400; Middle English demonstratif (< Middle French) < Latin dēmonstrātīvus, equivalent to dēmonstrāt(us) (see demonstrate) + -īvus -ive

Related formsde·mon·stra·tive·ly, adverbde·mon·stra·tive·ness, nounnon·de·mon·stra·tive, adjectivenon·de·mon·stra·tive·ly, adverbnon·de·mon·stra·tive·ness, nounpre·de·mon·stra·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for demonstratively

Contemporary Examples of demonstratively

That is, to read Men in Space is to encounter a novelist already aware of his capabilities, at times flexing them demonstratively.
Must Read New Fiction: ‘Arcadia,’ ‘Men in Space,’ ‘The O’Briens,’ ‘Hot Pink’
Chloë Schama, Jacob Silverman, Wendy Smith, Daniel Roberts
March 23, 2012

Historical Examples of demonstratively

He could not care for any one enthusiastically and demonstratively.
Jennie Gerhardt
Theodore Dreiser
Whence by him alone are they known a priori and demonstratively.
Leibniz's New Essays Concerning the Human Understanding
John Dewey
These are actively and demonstratively dissatisfied with the Queen.
Modern Leaders: Being a Series of Biographical Sketches
Justin McCarthy
That she was not demonstratively thankful was no fault of hers.
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Thomas Hardy
Though thus reduced to silence, he cleared his throat in a demonstratively subservient manner and awaited his opportunity.
Dusty Diamonds Cut and Polished
R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for demonstratively

demonstrative

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

Derived Formsdemonstratively, adverbdemonstrativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for demonstratively

demonstrative

adj.

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.