Adjective Meaning

2.1 Using Language To Give The Meaning Of Words

Using language to give the meaning of words is the system

of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and
feelings to each other.

For example : little - small, not big, not much

Small - little in size in size
Big – large in size
Much - large in quantity
 2.2 Sense relation relevant to adjectives

Sense relation is a paradigmatic relation between

words of predicates.

Example : If it is true a particular person has arrived

in Edinburgh, then it must be true that the person is
in Edinburgh at the time and made a journey from
somewhere else.
 2.2.1 Synomyny
Synomyny is quivalence of sense. Example :
mother, mom and mum.
Sentences with the same meaning are called
paraphrases.
Example : - Andy is impudent.
- Andy is cheeky.
2.2.2 Complementaries
Complementaries are defined in terms of a pattern.
Example :
 Maude’s is the same as yours.
 Maude’s is different from yours.

2.2.3 Anatonyms
Anatonymy is defined by a pattern of entailments.
The term anatonymy is sometimes employed to
mean any kind of oppositeness.
Example : - The street was noisy.
- The street was silent.
 2.2.4 Converses
Converses are the comparative forms of an
anatonym pair have an interesting sense relation
between them.
Example : California is richer than some
countries.
Converseness is found not only between
comparative adjectives but also in other word
classes.
Example : Parent of child of (nouns)
Precedefollow (verbs)
Above below (preposition)
2.2.5 Four sense relations compared

• Synonym : two-way entailment, by substitution

• Complementaries : two-way entailment, affirmative to
negative, negative to affirmative, by substitution & negation
• Anatonyms : affrimative to negative, by do not yield
paraphrases
• Conrveses : teo-way entailment,by substitution and
reordering of noun phrases
2.2.6 Meaning postulates
Meaning postulates were developed by the
philosopher Rudolf Carnap (1891-1970) as a way
of intergrating into logical systems the
entailment information that comes from word
meanings.
Example : Rupert is a friend of mine
and if he is a friend of mine then I am willing to
lend him bicycle.
Therefore I am willing to lend Rupert my bicycle.
2.3 Construction with Adjectives
2.3.1 Gradability
Gradability is quality of being gradable (able to be
used in the comparative or superlative or with word
such as ‘very’ and ‘quite’).
Example : Card is thicker than paper.
Showers will be more frequent tomorrow

He is the rudest person I’ve ever met.

2.3.2 Adjectives Modifying nouns

Adjective modifying nouns are often called

“describing words” because they give us futher
details about a noun, such as what it looks like, how
many there are or which one it is.
Example: - The old clock hung upon the wall.
- A white horse galloped across the luch,
green grass.
2.3.3 Larger Sets than Pairs

Largers set than pairs discussed that some

adjectives with apparently interesting
interrelationships in meaning occur in sets of more
than two.
Example : {black, purple, blue, brown, green, yellow,
orange, red, pink, white, grey}

{circular/round, triagular, rectangular}

{previous, current, next}
THAT’S ALL
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