Appellative

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈpɛlətɪv/

Definitions

1. A term or name used to identify or designate something, especially one that describes a characteristic or function
2. A descriptive term that serves to name or classify something, particularly emphasizing a specific trait or role
3. A word used to denote or refer to an object or concept, often highlighting a distinct feature or purpose

Etymology: "Appellative" comes from the Late Latin "appellātīvus," formed from the stem "appella-," meaning "to call," plus the adjectival suffix "-īvus," which gives the sense "tending to" or "relating to." The Latin verb itself combines "ad-" ("to") with "pellere" ("to drive" or "push"), so the underlying idea is of driving a sound toward someone, which is to say addressing them. English took the word through the Latin adjective, and the "-ive" ending in English mirrors that Latin suffix. The surprise lies in how the word ended up with two jobs. As an adjective, it describes something that serves to name or call, and in grammar it is used of common nouns, which name a whole class of things (such as "dog" or "city") rather than a single individual like "Rover" or "London." Those common nouns are the appellatives, the words that call a thing by its kind. The same stem produced "appellation," the formal name given to something, so the family of words has always centred on the act of naming.

Synonyms: name, title, designation