Suppletive

created by Webster 1913
(idea) by Gritchka (2.6 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Wed Jan 17 2001 at 14:40:16
In grammar, a form that is of a different origin from what you would expect to be a related form. For example, in English the past tense of go is not *"goed" (though archaic words yode and yede do exist) but went, originally from the verb wend.

In Latin fero 'I carry' would be expected to have perfect something like *ferui and supine *fertum, but in fact it uses tuli and latum. (These two themselves look unlike but latum comes from earlier tlatum, the same root as in Greek Atlas, the bearer.)

(definition) by Webster 1913 (print) Wed Dec 22 1999 at 3:36:34

Sup"ple*tive (?), Sup"ple*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. suppl'etif, LL. suppletivus, from L. supplere, suppletum, to fill up. See Supply.]

Supplying deficiencies; supplementary; as, a suppletory oath.

 

© Webster 1913.

Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.