singulative

English

Etymology

From French singulatif, from Latin singillatim (“singly", "one by one”), from singulus (“single", "separate”), from Proto-Italic *sem-g-lo-, a diminutive form derived from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one, together”).

Adjective

singulative (not comparable)

1. (grammar) Of or pertaining to a grammatical form or construction that expresses the individuation of a single referent from a mass noun.

   English doesn't have a singulative number in general, but many uncountable nouns have usual singulative constructions.

Noun

singulative (plural singulatives)

1. (grammar) A singulative form or construction.

   The singulative of "cattle" is "a head of cattle".

   The singulative of "scissors" is "a pair of scissors".

Related terms

• singular

Translations

a singulative form or construction

• Breton: unanderenn (br) f
• French: singulatif (fr)
• Latin: nomen unitatis n
• Russian: одино́чное (ru) n (odinóčnoje)
• Spanish: singulativo (es)
• Welsh: ffurf unigolynnol f

See also

• collective noun
• dual
• mass noun
• paucal
• plural
• trial