verbal adjective

American

noun

Grammar.

an adjective derived from a verb, as, in English, smiling in smiling eyes, or, in Greek, batós “going,” “moving,” derived from baínen “to go,” “to move.”

Etymology

Origin of verbal adjective

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In imitation probably of the Greek verbal adjective in τος, as αἱρετός, στρεπτός, etc., the Latins, especially Sallust, sometimes used the past part. as equivalent to an adj. in bilis: comp. xliii, 5.; lxxvi.

From Project Gutenberg

There was formerly no distinction between the verbal adjective and the present participle; but the Academy lays down one not very easy to grasp.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the termination of the present participle and verbal adjective derived from verbs in -a.

From Project Gutenberg

Footnote 48: In the verbal adjective the tone of the second syllable differs from that of the first.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023