Functional Labels

An italic label indicating a part of speech or some other functional classification follows the pronunciation or, if no pronunciation is given, the main entry. The main traditional parts of speech are indicated as follows:

If a verb is both transitive and intransitive, the labels transitive verb and intransitive verb introduce the subdivisions:

flat·ten . . .verb . . . transitive verb . . . intransitive verb

If there is no subdivision, transitive verb or intransitive verb takes the place of verb:

²fleece transitive verb
ap·per·tain . . . intransitive verb

Labeling a verb as transitive, however, does not preclude occasional intransitive use (as in absolute constructions).

Other italicized labels used to indicate functional classifications that are not traditional parts of speech are:

geog abbreviation
poly- combining form
-logy noun combining form
-iliferous adjective combining form
super- prefix
Gram·my . . . service mark
¹-ic adjective suffix
²-ward or -wards adverb suffix
-itis noun suffix
-ize verb suffix
Ly·cra . . . trademark
-nd symbol
¹may . . . verbal auxillary
gid·dy·ap verbal imperative
me·thinks verb impersonal
NC-17 . . . certification mark

Two functional labels are sometimes combined:

zilch . . . adjective or noun
afloat . . . adjective or adverb

Functional labels are not shown for main entries that are noun phrases having a preposition in the middle:

ball of fire (ca 1900) : a person of unusual energy . . .

Functional labels are also not shown for phrases that are defined run-on entries.

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