copula

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copula (gram.) part of a proposition connecting subject and predicate, spec. the verb ‘to be’; connection XVII. — L. cōpula connection, linking of words, f. CO- + apere fasten; see APT, -ULE, and cf. COUPLE.
So copulate †couple; unite sexually. XVII. f. pp. stem of L. cōpulāre, f. cōpula; see -ATE 3. copulation XIV. — (O)F. — L.

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