Home US English nominativus pendens

Definition of nominativus pendens in English:

nominativus pendens

noun

Grammar

  • A construction in which a sentence is completed as if the subject were other than it is; a subject semantically unconnected with the rest of the construction in which it occurs.

Pronunciation

nominativus pendens

/ˌnɒmɪnəˌtʌɪvəs ˈpɛndɛnz/ /ˌnɒmɪnəˌtɪːvəs ˈpɛndɛnz/

Origin

Mid 19th century; earliest use found in John Wharton (d. 1867). From post-classical Latin nominativus pendens from classical Latin nōminātīvus + pendēns, present participle of pendēre to hang.