Adnoun
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In linguistics, an adnoun is a kind of lexical category. In English, it is a word that is usually an adjective, but is being used as a noun.[1][2] The origin of the word is thought to date to around 1745-1755.[2]
Examples:
- "guide-dogs for the blind", "blind" is an adnoun because it stands in for the noun phrase "blind people"
- "tax cuts for the rich", "rich" is an adnoun because it stands in for the noun phrase "rich people"
Often these usages are simply identified as the noun form of the word.
[edit] Alternatively
Adnoun is also considered to be an archaic term for adjective. As John Eliot states in his 1666 Indian Grammar Begun..., "An Adnoun is a part of Speech that attendeth upon a Noun, and signifieth the Qualification thereof." This means that an adnoun is an adjective.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "List of unusual words". The Phrontistery. http://phrontistery.info/a.html. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
- ^ a b "Adnoun". Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adnoun. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
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