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A

A   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
729 words

The 1st letter of the Roman alphabet as used for English. It descends from the Phoenician symbol for a glottal stop...

Abbreviation

Abbreviation   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
1,245 words

A word formation process involving the shortening of words and phrases in a variety of ways, such as in RADAR...

Ablaut

Ablaut   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
83 words

A term used in linguistics for vowel gradation, typically where the vowel alternation (e.g. mouse/mice) marks grammatical information (e.g. a type of ...

Aboriginal English

Aboriginal English   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
209 words
A dialect of English spoken by Aboriginal people(s) in Australia, which sounds similar to australian english but differs in some semantic and pragmatic ways. It is sometimes referred to by ... More
Abridgement

Abridgement   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
171 words

1. The act, process, or result of shortening or condensing a text, usually to a given length such as half or one-third, or to a required number of words....

Absolute

Absolute   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
39 words

A term, borrowed from Latin, meaning free from dependency, autonomous. Traditionally, it is used to refer to a type of phrase or clause, i.e. ...

Absolute Construction

Absolute Construction   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
293 words

A clause-like construction that typically takes the form of a non-finite subordinate clause, e.g. ‘The dinner having been prepared...

Abstract

Abstract   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
253 words

1. A summary of a statement, thesis, paper, or other document, usually providing its gist (essential elements and argument). See...

Abusage

Abusage   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
47 words

An archaic term for abuse, misuse, a nominalized form from the verb abuse. It was revived in 1942 by Eric Partridge...

Abuse

Abuse   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
241 words
1. Wrong or improper use of anyone or anything. The term is often (usually emotively) applied to language: Some native speakers claim that the ... ... More
Academic English

Academic English   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
403 words
The register of English used in academic contexts, for example by students, scholars, and scientists: an elevated and often complex style associated with concern for accuracy, objectivity, ... More
Accent

Accent   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
970 words

1. A way of speaking that indicates a person’s place of origin and/or social class: a working-class accent, a London accent, a working-class London accent...

Acceptability

Acceptability   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
20 words

A term in linguistics relating to whether a phrase or sentence is grammatically or semantically acceptable. Compare correct; grammaticality.

Accidence

Accidence   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
75 words
The part of traditional grammar dealing with inflection (changes in the forms of words to express such grammatical meanings as case, number, and tense). In English, the differences between ... More
Acrolect

Acrolect   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
45 words

1. The variety of language in a post-creole continuum closest to the standard or superstrate language: for example, in Jamaica a local variety of standard English....

Acronym

Acronym   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
924 words

An abbreviation formed from the first letters of a series of words and pronounced as one word: NATO from North Atlantic Treaty Organization...

Active (Voice)

Active (Voice)   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
108 words

Active voice constructions refer to a type of clause in which the subject of a verb with an action-oriented meaning has the semantic role of ...

Acute Accent

Acute Accent   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
94 words

A right-inclined oblique stroke over a letter, as in French é (café, élite, née), transliterated Sanskrit ś (...

Adjective

Adjective   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
642 words

A word class chiefly used to premodify nouns (romantic in romantic story), to postmodify nouns (visible in the stars visible...

Adjective Clause

Adjective Clause   Quick reference

The Oxford Companion to the English Language (2 ed.)

Reference type:
Subject Reference
Current Version:
2018
Subject:
Language reference, History of English, Linguistics
Length:
56 words

The traditional name for a relative clause, because such clauses modify nouns. The term is also used for constructions in which an ...

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