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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
In preparing future lessons on appositives, I came across the grammatical term oppositive, a new one for me.
Here's what one of the dictionary links (Dictionary.com, I think) offered:
oppositive
adj : expressing antithesis or opposition; "the adversative conjunction `but' in `poor but happy'" [syn: adversative]
So, but can function as an adversative or oppositive conjunction when followed by an antithetical modifier. That's pretty interesting to me. Hope it is to y'all.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Good grief, I look at this new-to-me word and my mind wants to jump to "oppossum"! Adversative is a new word for me, too. You've stumped Gurunet with oppositive, but it likes:
ad·ver·sa·tive (ăd-vûr'sə-tĭv)
adj.
Expressing antithesis or opposition: the adversative conjunction but.
n.
A word that expresses antithesis or opposition.
[Latin adversātīvus, from adversātus, past participle of adversārī, to oppose, from adversus, against. See adverse.]
Now I'm wondering: are either of these words ever used to describe anything but 'but'? Are they used for conjunctions only? Couldn't terms like "extra-large shrimp" also be described using either of these words? What if the ex. read poor and happy? Would the and be considered an oppositive/adversative?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Well I always try to accentuate oppositive...
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