appellative
|a-pel-la-tive|
/əˈpɛlətɪv/
relating to a name or calling
Etymology
'appellative' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'appellativus', where the root 'appellare' meant 'to call' or 'to name'.
'appellative' changed from Medieval Latin 'appellativus' and influenced Old French forms such as 'appellatif', and it entered English through Middle English into the modern word 'appellative'.
Initially it meant 'pertaining to calling or naming', and over time it evolved into the current sense of 'serving as a name or relating to naming'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a name, title, or designation used to identify someone or something.
Doctor is an appellative that indicates someone has earned a doctoral degree.
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Noun 2
a descriptive name or epithet applied to a person or thing.
He earned the appellative 'the Bold' after his daring actions.
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Adjective 1
relating to or serving as a name or designation; used in naming.
They used an appellative form to distinguish each generation within the family.
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Last updated: 2025/09/24 05:14