expletive

²expletive

adj

Definition of EXPLETIVE

1

: serving to fill up <expletive phrases>

2

: marked by the use of expletives

Origin of EXPLETIVE

Late Latin expletivus, from Latin expletus, past participle of explēre to fill out, from ex- + plēre to fill — more at full

First Known Use: 1666

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile