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participle

Syllabification: (par·ti·ci·ple)
Pronunciation: /ˈpärtəˌsipəl/

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Definition of participle

noun

Grammar
  • a word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective (e.g., working woman, burned toast) or a noun (e.g., good breeding). In English, participles are also used to make compound verb forms (e.g., is going, has been). Compare with gerund.

Derivatives

participial


adjective

participially


adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, by-form of participe, from Latin participium '(verbal form) sharing (the functions of a noun)', from participare 'share in'

participle in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of participle in the British & World English dictionary