adjective Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a word that expresses an attribute of something
  2. noun the word class that qualifies nouns
  3. adjective of or relating to or functioning as an adjective
    adjectival.
    • adjectival syntax
    • an adjective clause
  4. adjective relating to court practice and procedure as opposed to the principles of law
    procedural.
    • adjective law

WordNet

Ad"jec*tive adjective
Etymology
See Adjective, n.
Definitions
  1. Added to a substantive as an attribute; of the nature of an adjunct; as, an word sentence.
  2. Not standing by itself; dependent.
  3. Relating to procedure. "The whole English law, substantive and adjective." Macaulay.
Ad"jec*tive noun
Etymology
L. adjectivum (sc. nomen), neut. of adjectivus that is added, fr. adjicere: cf. F. adjectif. See Adject.
Definitions
  1. (Gram.) A word used with a noun, or substantive, to express a quality of the thing named, or something attributed to it, or to limit or define it, or to specify or describe a thing, as distinct from something else. Thus, in phrase, "a wise ruler," wise is the adjective, expressing a property of ruler.
  2. A dependent; an accessory. Fuller.
Ad"jec*tive transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Adjectived present participle & verbal noun Adjectiving
Definitions
  1. To make an adjective of; to form or change into an adjective. R.
    Language has as much occasion to adjective the distinct signification of the verb, and to adjective also the mood, as it has to adjective time. It has . . . adjectived all three. Tooke.

Webster 1913