avalent
|a-val-ent|
/əˈveɪlənt/
without combining power / no valence
Etymology
'avalent' is formed in English from the privative prefix 'a-' (meaning 'not' or 'without') + 'valent' (from 'valence'), which in turn relates to Latin 'valentia' from 'valere' meaning 'to be strong'.
'valence' came into English via French 'valence' from Latin 'valentia' (from 'valent-' meaning 'being strong'), and English formed the adjective by adding the prefix 'a-' to create 'avalent' meaning 'without valence'.
Originally related to 'strength' or 'capacity' (from Latin 'valere'), the sense shifted to 'combining power' (valence) and then to the negated sense 'lacking combining power' in 'avalent'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
chemistry: having no valency or combining power; of zero valence.
In this complex, the central atom is avalent and does not form additional bonds.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
linguistics: having valency 0; describing verbs or predicates that require no arguments (often called avalent verbs).
Some analyses treat weather expressions like 'it rains' as avalent constructions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/30 16:19