ILLATIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does illative mean? 

• ILLATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective ILLATIVE has 3 senses:

1. relating to or having the nature of illation or inference

2. resembling or dependent on or arrived at by inference

3. expressing or preceding an inference

  Familiarity information: ILLATIVE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ILLATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or having the nature of illation or inference

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

illative; inferential

Context example:

the illative faculty of the mind

Pertainym:

inference (the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Resembling or dependent on or arrived at by inference

Synonyms:

illative; inferential

Context example:

inferential reasoning

Similar:

deductive (involving inferences from general principles)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Expressing or preceding an inference

Context example:

'therefore' is an illative word

Similar:

deductive (involving inferences from general principles)

Domain category:

grammar (the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics))