Augmentative: meaning, definitions and examples
📈
augmentative
[ ɔːɡˈmɛntətɪv ]
grammar form
The term 'augmentative' refers to a linguistic form that indicates an increase in size, importance, or intensity. It is often used to describe words that convey a sense of enlargement or enhancement. In many languages, augmentatives are formed by adding specific prefixes or suffixes to a word. In English, an example might include 'Biggie' used as an augmentative form of 'big'. This grammatical feature helps in expressing greater degrees of qualities.
Synonyms
amplifying, enhancing, intensifying.
Examples of usage
- That dog is a big dog.
- He gave her a little hug, but it felt like an augmentative embrace.
- In some languages, augmentative forms can add a sense of affection.
- The word 'grand' is an augmentative version of 'large'.
Translations
Translations of the word "augmentative" in other languages:
🇵🇹 aumentativo
🇮🇳 वृद्धि करने वाला
🇩🇪 Vergrößerungsform
🇮🇩 augmentatif
🇺🇦 підсилювальний
🇵🇱 augumentatywny
🇯🇵 拡大形
🇫🇷 augmentatif
🇪🇸 aumentativo
🇹🇷 büyütücü
🇰🇷 확대형
🇸🇦 تضخيم
🇨🇿 augmentativ
🇸🇰 augmentatív
🇨🇳 增大词
🇸🇮 augmentativ
🇮🇸 aukning
🇰🇿 ұлғайту
🇬🇪 გაფართოება
🇦🇿 artırıcı
🇲🇽 aumentativo
Etymology
The term 'augmentative' comes from the Latin 'augmentare', which means 'to increase or make larger'. This Latin word is derived from 'augere', meaning 'to increase'. The use of augmentatives can be traced back through various languages, reflecting a common linguistic feature where size and magnitude are expressed morphologically. In the early development of grammar, linguists noted the need for tools to express differentiation in scale, leading to the formalization of augmentatives as a category. The concept has evolved through Old and Middle English, where different forms and modifications emerged to express an increase in qualities. Today, the term is commonly used in linguistics and language studies.