Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Expletive
Ex′ple-tive
,Adj.
[L.
expletivus
, from expletus
, p. p. of explere
to fill up; ex
out+plere
to fill, akin to plenus
full: cf. F. explétif
. See Full
.] Filling up; hence, added merely for the purpose of filling up; superfluous.
“Expletive imagery.” Hallam.
Expletive
phrases to plump his speech. Barrow.
Ex′ple-tive
,Noun.
A word, letter, or syllable not necessary to the sense, but inserted to fill a vacancy; an oath.
While
And ten low words oft creep in one dull line.
explectives
their feeble aid to join,And ten low words oft creep in one dull line.
Pope.
Webster 1828 Edition
Expletive
EX'PLETIVE
,Adj.
EX'PLETIVE
,Noun.
Definition 2024
expletive
expletive
See also: explétive
English
Adjective
expletive (comparative more expletive, superlative most expletive)
- Serving to fill up, merely for effect, otherwise redundant.
- Hallam
- Expletive imagery.
- Barrow
- Expletive phrases to plump his speech.
- Hallam
- Marked by expletives (phrase-fillers).
Synonyms
Translations
serving to fill up
| Examples (syntactic filler) |
|---|
|
It is snowing. |
| Examples (strengthener) |
|---|
|
I'll give you a bloody good hiding |
Noun
expletive (plural expletives)
- A profane, vulgar term, notably a curse or obscene oath.
- (linguistics) A word without meaning added to fill a syntactic position.
- (linguistics) A word that adds to the strength of a phrase without affecting its meaning; an intensifier.
Derived terms
Translations
profane, vulgar term — see swear word
word added to fill a syntactic position
References
- Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967