intransitive
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in·tran·si·tive

adjective \(ˌ)in-ˈtran(t)-sə-tiv, -ˈtran-zə-; -ˈtran(t)s-tiv\

Definition of INTRANSITIVE

: not transitive; especially : characterized by not having or containing a direct object <an intransitive verb>
in·tran·si·tive·ly adverb
in·tran·si·tive·ness noun
in·tran·si·tiv·i·ty \(ˌ)in-ˌtran(t)-sə-ˈti-və-tē, -ˌtran-zə-\ noun

Examples of INTRANSITIVE

  1. In I ran and The bird flies, ran and flies are intransitive.

Origin of INTRANSITIVE

Late Latin intransitivus, from Latin in- + Late Latin transitivus transitive
First Known Use: 1612

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

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

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