Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Characterized by having a small number, greater than two, of (usually equivalent) components.
  • adjective grammar pertaining to a language form referring to a few of something (three to around ten), as a small group of people; contrast singular, dual, trial and plural.
  • noun grammar a language form referring to a few of something (three to around ten), as a small group of people; contrast singular, dual, trial and plural.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin paucalis ("few, little"), from paucus, plural pauci ("few, little, a few, the select few, the oligarchs"), from Proto-Indo-European *pau- (“few, little”), + Latin adjective suffix -alis.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word paucal.

Examples

  • Number is that feature in the grammar of a language that enables us to distinguish quantities, usually countable quantities. singular, dual, trial, plural, paucal etc.

    Recently Uploaded Slideshows 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.