connectives
|kə-ˈnɛk-tɪvz|
/kəˈnɛktɪvz/
(connective)
linking; binding
Etymology
'connective' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'connectere', where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'nectere' meant 'to bind'.
'connective' developed from the verb 'connect', which came into Middle English from Old French and from Latin 'connectere'; the adjectival suffix '-ive' (from Latin '-ivus' via Old French) produced the modern English adjective 'connective'.
Initially related to the action 'to bind or join together'; over time it came to mean both 'serving to connect' (adjective) and 'a linking word or element' (noun) in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
words or phrases that link clauses, sentences, or parts of a text (e.g., however, therefore, moreover); also called linking words or connectors.
Academic essays often use connectives such as 'however' and 'therefore' to show relationships between sentences.
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Noun 2
things or elements that join two or more parts together; connectors or joints.
The electrician replaced the damaged connectives between the cables.
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Adjective 1
serving to connect or join (used before nouns, e.g., 'connective tissue').
Doctors study connective tissues like ligaments and tendons.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 10:05