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Of the nature of a phrase; consisting of a phrase; as, a phrasal adverb. Earlc.

more words forming an expression by themselves, or being a portion of a sentence; as, an adverbial phrase. "Convey" the wise it call. "Steal!" foh! a fico for the phrase. Shak.

Vexatious; troublesome; tormenting; as, a plaguy horse. [Colloq.] Also used adverbially; as, "He is so plaguy proud." Shak.

Iceland spar, tourmaline, etc. -- Positive degree (Gram.), that state of an adjective or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble. -- Positive electricity (Elec), the kind of electricity which is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which a…

A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; -- so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridg…

Practice) See under Question, and compare Closure. -- Previous to, before; -- often used adverbially for previously. "Previous to publication." M. Arnold. "A policy . . . his friends had advised previous to 1710." J. H. Newman.

To move in any direction; to impel; to thrust; to push; -- nearly obsolete, except with adverbs, as with by (to put by = to thrust aside; to divert); or with forth (to put forth = to thrust out). His chief designs are . . . to put thee by from thy spiritual employment. Jer. Taylor.

An adverbial suffix; as in towards, needs, always, -- originally the genitive, possesive, ending. See -'s.

sets; -- used mostly in composition with a noun, as typesetter; or in combination with an adverb, as a setter on (or inciter), a setter up, a setter forth.

to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; -- generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree. Shake off the golden slumber of repose. Shak. 'Tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age. Shak. I could scarcely shake him out of my company. B…

express simple futurity. (Cf. Will, v. t.) Shall may be used elliptically; thus, with an adverb or other word expressive of motion go may be omitted. "He to England shall along with you." Shak.

A ship's side; hence, by extension, a ship; -- found chiefly in adverbial phrases; as, on shipboard; a shipboard.

ing such; therefore; on this account; for this reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a conjuction. God makes him in his own image an intellectual creature, and so capable of dominion. Locke. Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness; So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be al…

sons, things, places, times, ways, etc. It is sometimes used separate from the pronoun or adverb. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. Luke xii. 48. What great thing soever a man proposed to do in his life, he should think of achieving it by fifty. Sir W. Temple.

the highest or lowest degree of the quality, manner, etc., denoted by an adjective or an adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most pleasant, least bright. -- Su`per*la"tive*ly, adv. -- Su`per*la"tive*ness, n.

Similarity of function, use office, or the like. The adverb has most sympathy with the verb. Earle.

Coalescence; a growing into one with another word. [R.] Some of the phrasal adverbs have assumed the form of single words, by that symphytism which naturally attaches these light elements to each other. Earle.

Not capable of being used as a term by itself; -- said of words, as an adverb or preposition.

A particle expressing comparison, used after certain adjectives and adverbs which express comparison or diversity, as more, better, other, otherwise, and the like. It is usually followed by the object compared in the nominative case. Sometimes, however, the object compared is placed in the objective case, and than is t…

As adverb: To such a degree; so; as, he was that frightened he could say nothing. [Archaic or in illiteral use.] All that, everything of that kind; all that sort. With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. Pope. The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd [gold] for a'that. Burns. -- For that. See under F…