appellative | Word of the Day

June 05, 2019 appellative [uh-pel-uh-tiv] noun 1. a descriptive name or designation, as Bald in Charles the Bald. adjective 1. designative; descriptive. word-trends The Most Surprisingly Serendipitous Words Of The Day What Is The Former Name Of Memorial Day? WORD OF THE DAY appellative continued... QUOTES In connection with this appellative of "Whalebone whales," it is of great importance to mention, that however such a nomenclature may be convenient in facilitating allusions to some kind of whales, yet it is in vain to attempt a clear classification of the leviathan ... -- Herman Melville, Moby Dick, 1851 ORIGIN Appellative comes from the Late Latin grammatical term appellātīvus "pertaining to a common noun" and nōmen appellātīvum "a common noun" (in contrast to nōmen proprium "a proper noun"). Appellātīvus is a derivative of the verb appellāre "to speak to, address, call upon, invoke." Appellative in the sense "descriptive name," as Great in Alfred the Great, is a development in English dating from the first half of the 17th century. Appellative in its original Latin sense entered English in the early 16th century. MORE FOR YOU 1 Why We Need Better Terms For People Who Identify As Two Or More Races Read how Professor Nicole Holliday explains why some individuals and groups that identify as two or more races are sensing a lexical gap for terms they would like for their own their specific racial combination. 2 Is There A Difference Between "Calling In" And "Calling Out"? Do you say "calling out sick" or "calling in sick"? That debate could go on forever. But, "calling out" and "calling in" actually have very specific meanings in the world of social justice. 3 Words To Help Explain Relationships In The 2010s In this slideshow, we're breaking down some of the latest slang terms and expressions we're using to talk about dating and relationships in the 2010s. 4 What Kind Of Songs Get To Be Called "Country Music"? Past and present, country music—and what gets to be called country music—is far more complex than many realize. 5 When Did "Fat" Become An Insult? The word fat holds a complicated place in our society. As an adjective, it joins words like tall, hairy, fluffy, or bright. But, unlike those descriptors, fat isn't neutral. © 2019 Dictionary.com, LLC. ABOUT CONTACT You are subscribed to the Word of the Day as: matzom229@gmail.com Subscriber since: September 06, 2017 Unsubscribe Dictionary.com, LLC. 555 12th Street Suite 400 Oakland CA 94607 Manage your subscription Terms & Privacy