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Definition of Expletive
1. Noun. Profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger. "Expletives were deleted"
Generic synonyms: Profanity
Derivative terms: Curse, Curse, Cuss, Swear
2. Noun. A word or phrase conveying no independent meaning but added to fill out a sentence or metrical line.
Definition of Expletive
1. a. Filling up; hence, added merely for the purpose of filling up; superfluous.
2. n. A word, letter, or syllable not necessary to the sense, but inserted to fill a vacancy; an oath.
Definition of Expletive
1. Adjective. Serving to fill up, merely for effect, otherwise redundant ¹
2. Adjective. Marked by expletives (phrase-fillers) ¹
3. Noun. A profane, vulgar term, notably a curse or obscene oath. ¹
4. Noun. (linguistics) A word without meaning added to fill a syntactic position. ¹
5. Noun. (linguistics) A word that adds to the strength of a phrase without affecting its meaning. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Expletive
1. [n -S]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Expletive
Literary usage of Expletive
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"At the end of words we find, above all in late times, the expletive II .
expletive VOWELS AND COMPLEMENTS OP SIMPLE LETTERS. Although the vowels were often ..."
2. The Principles of the Law of Evidence: With Elementary Rules for Conducting by William Mawdesley Best, John Archibald Russell (1882)
"(^) Under a system of municipal jurisprudence, expletive justice must be understood
to mean that which may be claimed of strict legal right; and attributive ..."
3. Essentials of English by Henry Carr Pearson, Mary Frederika Kirchwey (1915)
"INDEPENDENT ELEMENTS THE expletive THERE Notice the sentences below: There are
... The expletive there usually introduces, a sentence in which is (or some ..."
4. The Standard Dictionary of Facts: History, Language, Literature, Biography edited by Henry Woldmar Ruoff (1909)
"... Prosthesis is the prefixing of an expletive ' in kind. ... is the annexing of
an expletive things which are in most respects unlike, but syllable to a ..."
5. Guide Books to English by Charles Benajah Gilbert (1912)
"LXV expletive PHRASES AND CLAUSES " To be frank, it is doubtful whether Tell ever
really ... It is called an expletive phrase. (See expletives, page 173. ..."
6. Higher Lessons in English: A Work on English Grammar and Composition, in by Alonzo Reed, Brainerd Kellogg (1896)
"Explain the office of the expletive it. Illustrate the different positions of a
noun clause used as object complement. Show how the noun clause may be made ..."
7. Hydriatic Treatment of Scarlet Fever in Its Different Forms by Carl Munde (1857)
"Besides, the expletive method has found many antagonists of weight: Simon,
Williams, Tweedie, Allison and others have shown the danger of a general and ..."
8. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"At the end of words we find, above all in late times, the expletive II .
expletive VOWELS AND COMPLEMENTS OP SIMPLE LETTERS. Although the vowels were often ..."
9. The Principles of the Law of Evidence: With Elementary Rules for Conducting by William Mawdesley Best, John Archibald Russell (1882)
"(^) Under a system of municipal jurisprudence, expletive justice must be understood
to mean that which may be claimed of strict legal right; and attributive ..."
10. Essentials of English by Henry Carr Pearson, Mary Frederika Kirchwey (1915)
"INDEPENDENT ELEMENTS THE expletive THERE Notice the sentences below: There are
... The expletive there usually introduces, a sentence in which is (or some ..."
11. The Standard Dictionary of Facts: History, Language, Literature, Biography edited by Henry Woldmar Ruoff (1909)
"... Prosthesis is the prefixing of an expletive ' in kind. ... is the annexing of
an expletive things which are in most respects unlike, but syllable to a ..."
12. Guide Books to English by Charles Benajah Gilbert (1912)
"LXV expletive PHRASES AND CLAUSES " To be frank, it is doubtful whether Tell ever
really ... It is called an expletive phrase. (See expletives, page 173. ..."
13. Higher Lessons in English: A Work on English Grammar and Composition, in by Alonzo Reed, Brainerd Kellogg (1896)
"Explain the office of the expletive it. Illustrate the different positions of a
noun clause used as object complement. Show how the noun clause may be made ..."
14. Hydriatic Treatment of Scarlet Fever in Its Different Forms by Carl Munde (1857)
"Besides, the expletive method has found many antagonists of weight: Simon,
Williams, Tweedie, Allison and others have shown the danger of a general and ..."
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