expletive
UK[ɪkˈspliːtɪv]US[ˈɛksplətɪv]
n
An exclamation or swear word used to express strong emotion, often considered offensive or taboo.
adj
Serving to fill out or complete something, especially in grammar.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
plet
ive
ex
out
plet
fill
ive
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word "expletive" originates from the Late Latin expletivus, meaning "serving to fill out," which is derived from the Latin verb explēre ("to fill out, complete"). This verb itself is a compound of ex- ("out, thoroughly") and plēre ("to fill"). The grammatical sense, referring to a word that fills out a sentence without adding meaning (e.g., "there" in "there is"), was the first to enter English in the 17th century. The more common modern meaning, referring to an oath or swear word, developed in the early 19th century from the concept of such words being used to "fill out" or give emotional force to an expression, often replacing a more substantive thought.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + plet (fill) + ive (adjective suffix)
- ex: A Latin prefix meaning "out, out of, thoroughly."
- plet: From the Latin root plēre, meaning "to fill."
- ive: A suffix of Latin origin (-ivus) used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or tending to."
Examples
The comedian's routine was full of crude expletives.
In the sentence "It is obvious," the word "it" functions as an expletive subject.
He muttered an expletive under his breath when he dropped the heavy box on his foot.