split an infinitive
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split an infinitive — split an inˈfinitive idiom to place an adverb between ‘to’ and the infinitive of a verb, for example to say ‘to strongly deny a rumour’. Some people consider this to be bad English style. Main entry: ↑splitidiom … Useful english dictionary
split infinitive — split′ infin′itive n. use gram. an expression in which there is a word or phrase, usu. an adverb or adverbial phrase, between to and its accompanying verb form in an infinitive, as in to readily understand[/ex] • Etymology: 1895–1900 usage: The… … From formal English to slang
Split infinitive — A split infinitive is an English language grammatical construction in which a word or phrase, usually an adverb or adverbial phrase, comes between the marker to and the bare infinitive (uninflected) form of a verb. For example, a split infinitive … Wikipedia
split infinitives — It is almost certainly safe to say that the number of people who would never knowingly split an infinitive is a good deal larger than the number of people who can confidently say what an infinitive is and does. That may account for the number… … Dictionary of troublesome word
split infinitive — noun Date: 1897 an infinitive with to having a modifier between the to and the verbal (as in “to really start”) Usage: The split infinitive was discovered and named in the 19th century. 19th century writers seem to have made greater use of this… … New Collegiate Dictionary
split infinitive — Gram. an expression in which there is a word or phrase, esp. an adverb or adverbial phrase, between to and its accompanying verb form in an infinitive, as in to readily understand. [1895 1900] Usage. The rule against placing a word, especially an … Universalium
infinitive — n. 1) to split an infinitive 2) a split infinitive * * * [ɪn fɪnɪtɪv] a split infinitive to split aninfinitive … Combinatory dictionary
split infinitives — The belief that it is a serious breach of grammar to split an infinitive (that is, to put an adverb between to and a verb as in to boldly go ) is without foundation. It is certainly not a grammatical error. If it is an error at all, it is a… … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
split — splittable, adj. /split/, v., split, splitting, n., adj. v.t. 1. to divide or separate from end to end or into layers: to split a log in two. 2. to separate by cutting, chopping, etc., usually lengthwise: to split a piece from a block. 3. to tear … Universalium
split — I. verb (split; splitting) Etymology: Dutch splitten, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle High German splīzen to split and probably to Old High German spaltan to split Date: 1567 transitive verb 1. a. to divide lengthwise usually along a grain or… … New Collegiate Dictionary
