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participle definition

par·ti·ci·ple (pärt′i sip′əl)

noun

Gram. a verbal form having some characteristics and functions of both verb and adjective: in English, the present participle ends in -ing (asking) and the past participle most commonly ends in -ed or -en (asked, spoken): participles are used: a) in verb phrases (are asking, was carried) b) as verbs (seeing the results, he stopped) c) as adjectives (a laughing boy, the beaten path) d) as nouns, i.e., gerunds (seeing is believing) e) as adverbs (raving mad) f) as connectives (saving those present)

Etymology: OFr < L participium < particeps, participating, partaking < participare, participate: from participating in the nature of both v. & adj.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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