Particle

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PARTICLE. A WORD that does not change its form through INFLECTION and does not fit easily into the established system of PARTS OF SPEECH. Among individual words commonly so classed are the negative particle not (and its contraction n't), the infinitival particle to (to go; to run), the imperative particles do, don't (Do tell me; Don't tell me) and let, let's (Let me see now; Let's go). There is also a set of adverbial and prepositional particles that combine with verbs to form PHRASAL VERBS (out in look out; up in turn up) and PREPOSITIONAL VERBS (at in get at; for in care for). The term pragmatic particle is sometimes used for words that play a role in maintaining discourse and are also known as fillers and discourse markers: oh, ah, well, yes, no, actually, anyway. See ADVERBIAL PARTICLE, PREPOSITION.

par·ti·cle / ˈpärtikəl/ • n. 1. a minute portion of matter: tiny particles of dust. ∎  the least possible amount: he agrees without hearing the least particle of evidence. ∎  Physics another term for elementary particle. ∎ Physics another term for subatomic particle. ∎  Math. a hypothetical object having mass but no physical size. 2. Gram. a minor function word that has comparatively little meaning and does not inflect, in particular: ∎  (in English) any of the class of words such as in, up, off, over, used with verbs to make phrasal verbs. ∎  (in ancient Greek) any of the class of words such as de and ge, used for contrast and emphasis.

particle small or minute part XIV; (gram.) XVI. — L. particula, dim. of pars, part- PART; see -CLE.

particle See elementary particle.

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