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Functional Labels
An italic label indicating a part of speech or some other functional classification follows the pronunciation or, if no pronunciation is given, the main entry. The main traditional parts of speech are indicated as follows:
- 1bold . . . adjective
- 1but . . . conjunction
- handily . . . adverb
- oops . . . interjection
- bo·le·ro . . . noun
- some·one . . . pronoun
- 2under . . . preposition
- 1shrink . . . verb
If a verb is both transitive and intransitive, the labels transitive verb and intransitive verb introduce the subdivisions:
flat·ten . . .verb . . . transitive verb . . . intransitive verb
If there is no subdivision, transitive verb or intransitive verb takes the place of verb:
2fleece transitive verb
ap·per·tain . . . intransitive verb
Labeling a verb as transitive, however, does not preclude occasional intransitive use (as in absolute constructions).
Other italicized labels used to indicate functional classifications that are not traditional parts of speech are:
geog abbreviation
poly- combining form
-logy noun combining form
-iliferous adjective combining form
super- prefix
Gram·my . . . service mark
1-ic adjective suffix
2-ward or -wards adverb suffix
-itis noun suffix
-ize verb suffix
Ly·cra . . . trademark
-nd symbol
1may . . . verbal auxillary
gid·dy·ap verbal imperative
me·thinks verb impersonal
NC-17 . . . certification mark
Two functional labels are sometimes combined:
zilch . . . adjective or noun
afloat . . . adjective or adverb
Functional labels are not shown for main entries that are noun phrases having a preposition in the middle:
ball of fire (ca 1900) : a person of unusual energy . . .
Functional labels are also not shown for phrases that are defined run-on entries.
