disjunctive
|dis-junc-tive|
/dɪˈdʒʌŋktɪv/
separating; indicating an alternative ('or')
Etymology
'disjunctive' originates from Latin, specifically the Late Latin word 'disiunctivus', where the prefix 'dis-' meant 'apart' and the root 'iungere' (via 'iunct-') meant 'to join'.
'disjunctive' changed from the Late Latin word 'disiunctivus' into Early Modern English usage (17th century) as 'disjunctive', retaining the formation based on Latin elements rather than passing through a distinct Old French form.
Initially, it meant 'that which separates or divides' (from Latin), but over time it evolved into its current specialized uses in grammar and logic meaning 'relating to disjunction; indicating an alternative (or)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a grammatical or logical element that expresses disjunction (an 'or' item) or a clause/word functioning to separate or contrast.
In logic, the disjunctive 'or' connects two propositions and is called a disjunctive.
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Adjective 1
relating to or expressing disjunction (logical or): indicating an alternative or choice, often contrasted with conjunction.
The sentence uses a disjunctive structure to show alternatives: 'You can take the bus or you can walk.'
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Adjective 2
tending to separate or cause separation; severing or dividing.
The committee adopted a disjunctive approach that split the project into independent parts.
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Last updated: 2025/08/29 17:49