interrogative
UK[ˌɪn.təˈrɒɡ.ə.tɪv]US[ˌɪn.təˈrɑː.ɡə.t̬ɪv]
adj
Having the form or force of a question.
adj
Used in or for asking questions.
n
A word (such as who, what, which) or construction (such as a question) used in asking a question.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
rog
ative
inter
between, among
rog
to ask, to propose a law
ative
of, relating to, or tending to
Etymology
The word 'interrogative' originates from the Latin verb 'interrogare', meaning "to ask, to question". This verb itself is a compound of the prefix 'inter-', implying "between" or "among", and the root 'rogare', meaning "to ask". Thus, the literal sense is "to ask between (parties)", suggesting a formal inquiry or examination. Through Late Latin 'interrogativus' and Old French, the term entered English, evolving from describing the act of questioning to specifically denoting the grammatical form or words used for posing questions.
Analysis
Structure: inter + rog + ative
- inter: Latin origin, meaning "between, among". Functional role: prefix.
- rog: Latin origin, from 'rogare', meaning "to ask, to propose a law". Functional role: root.
- ative: Latin origin, suffix '-ativus', forming adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or tending to". Functional role: suffix.
Examples
She raised an interrogative eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.
"Why" and "how" are common interrogative words.
His tone was purely interrogative, not accusatory.