participle

[ pahr-tuh-sip-uh l, -suh-puh l ]
/ ˈpɑr təˌsɪp əl, -sə pəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR participle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Grammar.

an adjective or complement to certain auxiliaries that is regularly derived from the verb in many languages and refers to participation in the action or state of the verb; a verbal form used as an adjective. It does not specify person or number in English, but may have a subject or object, show tense, etc., as burning, in a burning candle, or devoted in his devoted friend.

Origin of participle

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French, variant of participe < Latin participium, derivative of particeps taking part, equivalent to parti- (stem of pars) part + -cep- (combining form of capere to take) + -s nominative singular ending

usage note for participle

See dangling participle, misplaced modifier.

Words nearby participle

participating preferred, participation, participatory democracy, participial, participialize, participle, particle, particle accelerator, particle beam, particle beam weapon, particle board

Words related to participle

deponent, gerund, infinitive

Example sentences from the Web for participle

British Dictionary definitions for participle

participle
/ (ˈpɑːtɪsɪpəl, pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl) /

noun

a nonfinite form of verbs, in English and other languages, used adjectivally and in the formation of certain compound tenses See also present participle, past participle

Derived forms of participle

participial (ˌpɑːtɪˈsɪpɪəl), adjective, noun participially, adverb

Word Origin for participle

C14: via Old French from Latin participium, from particeps partaker, from pars part + capere to take

Cultural definitions for participle

participle
[ (pahr-tuh-sip-uhl) ]

notes for participle

A “dangling” participle is one that is not clearly connected to the word it modifies: “ Standing at the corner, two children walked past me.” A better version of this example would be, “ While I was standing at the corner, two children walked past me.”