singulative

American  

[sing-gyuh-luh-tiv] / ˈsɪŋ gyə lə tɪv /

noun

1. a grammatical form or construction that expresses a singular entity or indicates that an individual is singled out from a group, especially as opposed to a collective noun. Snowflake is the singulative formed from the collective noun snow.

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adjective

1. noting or pertaining to such a form or construction.

Etymology

Origin of singulative

First recorded in 1950–55; from French singulatif, equivalent to singulaire + -atif; see origin at singular ( def. ), -ative