What is a singulative?

Definition
	A singulative is a grammatical form, adjunct, or variant of a word that expresses the individuation of a single referent from a group or mass.

Example (English)
	The addition of flake to snow produces the word snowflake, a form that expresses the individuation of its referent.

Concept module: singulative
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): S
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004