adjective equivalent

noun

: a word or word group that is not an adjective but has the noun-modifying function of an adjective (as music in "music teacher", dancing in "dancing teacher", John's in "John's dog", on the wall in "the picture on the wall", the doctor in "my friend the doctor", who plays golf in "a man who plays golf")

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

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Rhymes for adjective equivalent

• ambivalent
• bivalent
• trivalent
• nonequivalent