Adnoun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 will simply be identified as the noun form of the word.

[edit] Alternatively

Adnoun is simply an archaic term for adjective. As John Elliot states in his 1666 Indian Grammar Begun..., "An Adnoun is a part of Speech that attendeth upon a Noun, and signifieth the Qualification thereof." That is, an adnoun is an adjective.

[edit] See also

• wikibooks:English:Adnoun
• Verbal

[edit] References

1. ^ List of unusual words. The Phrontistery. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
2. ^ ^{a b} Adnoun. Dictionary.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.