preposition
1
[ prep-uh-zish-uh n ]
/ ˌprɛp əˈzɪʃ ən /
noun Grammar.
any member of a class of words found in many languages that are used before nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases functioning as modifiers of verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and that typically express a spatial, temporal, or other relationship, as in, on, by, to, since.
Origin of preposition
1usage note for preposition
The often heard but misleading “rule” that a sentence should not end with a preposition is transferred from Latin, where it is an accurate description of practice. But English grammar is different from Latin grammar, and the rule does not fit English. In speech, the final preposition is normal and idiomatic, especially in questions:
What are we waiting for? Where did he come from? You didn't tell me which floor you worked on. In writing, the problem of placing the preposition arises most when a sentence ends with a relative clause in which the relative pronoun (
that; whom; which; whomever; whichever; whomsoever ) is the object of a preposition. In edited writing, especially more formal writing, when a pronoun other than
that introduces a final relative clause, the preposition usually precedes its object:
He abandoned the project to which he had devoted his whole life. I finally telephoned the representative with whom I had been corresponding. If the pronoun is
that, which cannot be preceded by a preposition, or if the pronoun is omitted, then the preposition must occur at the end:
The librarian found the books that the child had scribbled in. There is the woman he spoke of.
OTHER WORDS FROM preposition
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH preposition
preposition propositionWords nearby preposition
preponderant,
preponderate,
prepone,
preportion,
prepose,
preposition,
prepositional phrase,
prepositional verb,
prepositive,
prepositor,
prepossess
British Dictionary definitions for non-prepositional
preposition
/ (ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən) /
noun
a word or group of words used before a noun or pronoun to relate it grammatically or semantically to some other constituent of a sentence
Abbreviation: prep
Derived forms of preposition
prepositional, adjective prepositionally, adverbWord Origin for preposition
C14: from Latin
praepositiō a putting before, from
pōnere to place
usage for preposition
The practice of ending a sentence with a preposition (
Venice is a place I should like to go to) was formerly regarded as incorrect, but is now acceptable and is the preferred form in many contexts
Cultural definitions for non-prepositional
preposition
A part of speech that indicates the relationship, often spatial, of one word to another. For example, “She paused at the gate”; “This tomato is ripe for picking”; and “They talked the matter over head to head.” Some common prepositions are at, by, for, from, in, into, on, to, and with.