Adjectives are words, or phrases naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.
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5answers
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The word to know when you don't know how to feel?
What is the word to use when you don't know how to feel? Such as instead of 'he didn't know how to feel' 'he felt __'.
0
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0answers
7 views
Latin derivatives
My work is all about the structure and meaning of derivative adjectives. And it was quite easy with flower-flowered pairs. But what about such words as "final" or "annual"? Their stems "ann" and "fin" ...
0
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1answer
25 views
Combining “only” with a second modifier
I would like to know which of the following phrases are grammatical.
administrative-only data
administrative only data
only-administrative data
only administrative data
1
vote
4answers
85 views
Is “a future musician” grammatical?
I want to become a musician in the future. Is it correct to say
I am a future musician.
I want to put it in my bio for Twitter. Are there any other better phrases?
2
votes
3answers
52 views
Adjective + “of them”
My wife and I were discussing whether it is allowable to put an adjective in front of "of them". For instance, I could say "I want 5 cats" and "I want 5 of them". However, while it sounds perfectly ...
2
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0answers
23 views
What are the comparative and superlative forms of 'lively'?
My teacher taught me that to form the comparative and superlative degrees of a mono- or di- or tri-syllabic word, I should add 'more' and 'most', e.g.:
lively -more lively-most lively
I know ...
3
votes
4answers
93 views
A pejorative term for “unreasonably gregarious”
I am looking for a pejorative term to describe someone who constantly needs social interaction regardless of quality.
Something along the lines of "social nymphomaniac", but not necessarily ...
8
votes
3answers
750 views
What is the difference between “onerous” and “arduous”?
Is there any difference in the meaning of these words? Which one of them is used the most in everyday conversation?
In my vocabulary for both words I've found essentially the same meaning: "difficult ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
Is a sentence beginning with “Different from” not so good?
I saw one topic on the wordreference forum discussing whether a sentence could begin with "Different from" (see the post). The example sentences in that post are
A: Different from Drug A, Drug B ...
4
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0answers
46 views
Etymology Moderne of … “sick”, “bad”, and words we hardly consider being the opposite any more [closed]
Somewhat prosaically, it was stated that the origin (or at least the coining practice likely used) of the word "sick" to mean "awesome", or "cool", or "astounding" ... itself used the word "cool", ...
0
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1answer
33 views
“Interaction technologies” vs. “interactive technologies”
What is your feeling about the differences between the two?
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1answer
44 views
Proper adjective to use with the word “chance” (“low”, “small”, “slim”, etc.)
What is the proper adjective to use with word chance? Can chance be low, small, slim?
What would be your suggestion?
2
votes
3answers
144 views
Is “emptiest” a logically correct term?
There are some adjectives that are logical binaries, e.g. empty — either the noun is empty or it isn't.
Can we apply a superlative degree to such adjectives? E.g.
This is the emptiest these ...
1
vote
2answers
70 views
“It was still bright/light outside.” Is one of these incorrect?
If I want to say it's still somewhat early in the evening and it's not so dark outside so that you can still see things quite clearly almost like during daytime, which of the following sentences would ...
21
votes
8answers
998 views
What do you call a computer window when it is not maximized or minimized?
What do you call a computer window when it is not maximized or minimized? I have been using unmaximized, but I feel there is a more precise way.
2
votes
4answers
2k views
“Ineffectual” vs “ineffective”
Skeptics argue that these kinds of initiatives are doomed to remain
perennially peripheral and ineffectual.
Intuitively, changing ineffectual to ineffective in the sentence above seems to ...
15
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5answers
1k views
Are the rules regarding absolute modifiers too absolute?
A common grammar lesson that was taught to me in the US and that I've had to teach abroad in EFL classrooms is that we're not to use adverbs of emphasis with absolute modifiers, just as we're not ...
3
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5answers
14k views
What is the difference between “skeptical” and “cynical”?
Both the words "skeptical" and "cynical" refer to a doubtful mood, but what is the basic difference between them?
0
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2answers
865 views
Use of the word “referable”
Can the word "referable" be used to denote something that can be referenced and what is the difference between "referable" and "referenceable"?
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0answers
42 views
Adjective following a verb [closed]
Which of these sentences is correct?
This music sounds great!
You look nice today.
You sing very good.
Which verbs can be followed by an adjective?
6
votes
4answers
1k views
What's the difference between “false”, “counterfeit”, and “forged” when describing a document?
I'm reading Schengen Borders Code (2006R0562—EN) and in the Annex V Part B there's a list of reasons for refusing entry that includes
(B) has a false/counterfeit/forged travel document
As far as ...
11
votes
2answers
3k views
“Electronic” vs. “electric”
Most people would refer to computers as being electronic, whereas a flashlight would be described as electric.
I know the general difference (electronic devices use transistors?), but what is it ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Migratory or migration?
In this phrase:
the migratory activity of white blood cells
is it possible to replaced the adjective migratory by the noun migration, which also serves as an adjective? Only one variant is ...
1
vote
2answers
192 views
A noun to describe character sequences between words
I'm creating a formal system in which a sentence can be formed by four types of sequences of characters:
Words
Prefixes
Suffixes
Sequences in between words
What noun would you use to describe a ...
1
vote
4answers
81 views
The ( changed ) meaning or classification of words in programming [closed]
I am facing a bit of a dilemma / problem .
I am an amateur programmer ( profile ) , and in programming languages some terms are accepted , known to everyone and frequently used everywhere .
My doubt ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Saxon Genitive vs. Adjective Noun (Model Parameters vs. Model's Parameters)
The suggestions in this same forum say that the use of the phrase "the car's antenna" is correct.
Questions:
Nobody mentioned the use of "the car antenna" -- which to me would be much more natural, ...
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2answers
83 views
Looking for words similar to “lagging” and “ahead of”
In computer networking, assume that I'm waiting for packets which are ordered by sequence number. First I get sequence number 1, and then 2, then 3 …
Assume that I now have 99 packets and ...
2
votes
3answers
118 views
Is it correct to use the comparative adjective “blacker?”
You can find "bluer," "redder," "greener," and "whiter" in the dictionary, but not "blacker." This seems mystifying. In his "El Paso" song, Marty Robbins sang, "Blacker than night were the eyes of ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Part of speech: “I am disappointed with”
In a construction such as, "John is disappointed with Alice", what part of speech is disappointed with? It appears to me that the "am" is a linking verb.
Similarly, "Jessica is sad", it seems to me ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What's the difference between “big” and “large”?
What's the proper way to say: a large family or a big family? What's the difference between them?
1
vote
1answer
96 views
“My late friends” — they're not dead!
Context: We're discussing about how we used to get penalized in school for being late to classes, many years ago.
I wanted to say:
In my old school, it was hilarious to see my late friends get
...
3
votes
4answers
11k views
What does 'abstract ideas' mean? [closed]
In the sentence for example:
This book would also interest intelligent students with a taste for abstract ideas and theoretical arguments.
What does the phrase "abstract ideas" mean? I looked up ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Is it preferable to generally use nested prepositional phrases or a hyphenated adjectival phrase?
I've recently run into some sticky situations involving how to write out complicated concept descriptions. Take this example:
Which metrics are appropriate for evaluating the accuracy of a ...
7
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6answers
18k views
Is “over-exaggerated” correct English?
Isn't "exaggerated" enough? Is it right to say "over-exaggerated"?
35
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4answers
6k views
What is the difference between “illicit” and “illegal”?
What is the difference between "illicit" and "illegal"? Are they just synonymous? Used in different contexts?
0
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2answers
90 views
Can we say “probable” where we have to say “possible”?
Can we say probable where we have to say possible?
What is the exact meaning of that? I have searched this, but I didn't get the perfect example of that.
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Can “above” be used as an adjective? [duplicate]
I've read in some English grammar books that the word above can only act as an adverb. It can never be used as an adjective in any context.
For example:
1) The above example explains it well.
...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
“Experienced” vs. “seasoned”
Are these two words interchangeable?
According to the Oxford dictionary, experienced means having knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity, while seasoned having a lot of experience in a ...
0
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2answers
121 views
multiple adjectives next to each other [closed]
In low volume, a melody sad love song is playing in a mobile phone placed on the side table.
Do you see the three adjectives (melody sad love) together? Is that correct?
1
vote
2answers
50 views
What role does 'in' take in this sentence?
Father: “It may not be exactly the car you want but..” Daughter:
“It’ll be rubbish, some old wreck that I’ll look totally stupid
in.” (BBC, The Archers, 2013-04-26 Friday, 8’55”~9’01”)
Does ...
0
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3answers
107 views
Hot is to heat as cold is to
Can you please fill in the blank?
Hot is to heat as cold is to....
In other words, what is the noun for "cold"?
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Why “afraid of” and not “brave of”?
Recently my preschooler's teacher started teaching kids that they should be "brave of" something and not "afraid of" it. Maybe it is simply because "brave of" is never used, but that syntax strikes me ...
0
votes
3answers
468 views
Word to describe someone who rarely gets upset
Is there a word to describe someone who rarely and almost never gets upset/angry? The words first came to my mind are non-confrontational and stoic, though they relate, they are not exactly what I'm ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
About the meaning of “light smattering of applause”
I expected "light smattering of applause" to mean "few applause" because "light" has the meaning of "small, not heavy".
However, the phrase seems to mean "a lot of applause" in the context. For ...
15
votes
11answers
2k views
Opposite of “verbose”
One definition of verbose states:
characterized by the use of many or too many words; wordy: a verbose report.
Some (including the above link) suggest that the opposite is concise or laconic, ...
11
votes
5answers
869 views
What is the adjectival form of “nemesis”?
If I have a non-person object or idea that I consider to be my nemesis1, how could I refer to the object as a noun but use an embellishing adjective to emphasize that the object is my nemesis?
For ...
0
votes
2answers
121 views
Is “I'm being angry” ungrammatical?
I am arguing with friends about this question.
According to what I learned in school, there are some adjectives that cannot be used in the progressive form.
I think this one is ungrammatical because ...
2
votes
2answers
57 views
Is there an adjectival form of “levity”?
Can anybody tell me the adjectival form of levity? I've found levitious here, but not sure whether it’s a dictionary word.
4
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5answers
145 views
word for false nostalgia
Is there a word to describe nostalgia for things that never existed? For example, a 1950s-style diner is supposed to reconstruct a cultural archetype, but there never existed such a diner. John Wayne ...
7
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10answers
819 views
Adjective for “Visual Cacophony”
What is an adjective that describes something very visually crowded or busy? Cacophonous is perfect, but it describes sound.
