Transitive: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The term 'transitive' comes from the Latin word 'transitivus', meaning 'to go across'.
• It was first used in the grammatical sense in the 14th century to describe verbs that transfer action.
• In mathematics, it describes a property where if A relates to B and B relates to C, then A must relate to C.

Grammar

• In English, transitive verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning, like 'She kicked the ball'.
• Examples of transitive verbs include 'give', 'find', and 'make', where the action moves from the subject to the object.
• Transitive verbs contrast with intransitive verbs, which do not need an object, like 'he sleeps'.

Philosophy

• In philosophy, the transitive property is often discussed in relation to relationships and logical statements.
• It is used to explore concepts of identity and relationships in various philosophical arguments.
• The Transitive Closure property helps in understanding complex structures, like social networks.

Education

• Teaching about transitive verbs is fundamental in English language learning and helps build sentence structure skills.
• Understanding transitivity can enhance writing clarity and precision.
• Many educational games and activities are designed to reinforce the concept of transitivity in language.

Mathematics

• In mathematics, transitive relations are crucial in set theory, showing how elements relate to each other.
• A classic example of a transitive relation in math is the relationship 'is greater than'; if A > B and B > C, then A > C.
• Understanding transitivity in functions helps in solving equations and inequalities.

With rank #16,114, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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• 16111 envious
• 16112 perpetuity
• 16113 candidacy
• 16114 transitive
• 16115 incomparable
• 16116 triad
• 16117 spawn
• ...