Definitions

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

  • adverb linguistics Before a verb.
  • adverb Before learning the ability to communicate by means of words.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

preverbal +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • Can you really have an unmarked noun phrase - ie haizi preverbally like this example with indefinite reference?

    languagehat.com: LINGUISTICS AND TRANSLATION. 2005

  • So just as the real scientists in Cophenhagen tell us that the science is more scary than ever, the sceptics with their heads preverbally stuck in the sand are discussing the non-existence of climate change.

    Oil Change 2009

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