conjunctive

American  

[kuhn-juhngk-tiv] / kənˈdʒʌŋk tɪv /

adjective

1. serving to connect; connective.

   conjunctive tissue.

2. conjoined; joint.

   a conjunctive action.

3. Grammar.

   1. (of a mode) subjunctive.

   2. (of a pronoun) conjunct.

   3. of the nature of a conjunction.

   4. (of an adverb) serving to connect two clauses or sentences, as however or furthermore.

4. Logic. characterizing propositions that are conjunctions.

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noun

1. Grammar. a conjunctive word; a conjunction.

conjunctive British  

/ kənˈdʒʌŋktɪv /

adjective

1. joining; connective

2. joined

3. of or relating to conjunctions or their use

4. logic relating to, characterized by, or containing a conjunction

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noun

1. a less common word for conjunction

Other Word Forms

• conjunctively adverb
• nonconjunctive adjective
• nonconjunctively adverb
• subconjunctive adjective
• subconjunctively adverb
• unconjunctive adjective

Etymology

Origin of conjunctive

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English conjunctif, from Late Latin conjunctīvus; equivalent to conjunct + -ive

Explanation

Something that's conjunctive tends to connect or combine two things. A conjunctive effort between two people is a combined attempt to get something done, and the word "and" in this very sentence is conjunctive since it's joining two phrases together. The word conjunctive often comes up in medical terminology, in phrases like "conjunctive tissue," or tissue that connects different parts of the body. Another kind of conjunctive is a part of speech — like the words "but" and "or" — that connects phrases or words within a sentence. Conjunctive comes from the Latin word coniunctivus, "serving to connect," with its root of coniungere, "to join together."

Example Sentences

And they used lots of conjunctive adverbs, those connecting words like moreover, namely and indeed.

From The Guardian • Sep. 21, 2018

As his solo closes, he and Mr. O’Farrill link up again, finding a loose, conjunctive flow.

From New York Times • Jun. 1, 2018

Asked what she would do with a second gold if she won one in Rio, she took exception to the conjunctive.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2016

I make my bread deciding whether a word is an attributive noun or adjective, parsing adverbial uses over conjunctive uses, writing those delightfully boring usage notes in your dictionary.

From The Guardian • Mar. 4, 2013

Note 2.—Good usage sometimes permits a comma to be used before a conjunctive adverb in short sentences where the break in the thought is not formal or emphatic.

From The Century Handbook of Writing by Greever, Garland

Related Words

• concerted
• consolidated
• cooperative
• homogeneous
• integrated
• linked
• unanimous
• undivided
• unified