semelfactive

English - English

Definition of semelfactive in English English dictionary

The semelfactive aspect refers to a verb form that indicates a momentary or punctiliar action

The semelfactive aspect

Grammar - Designating or pertaining to a verbal aspect (in Russian and other Slavonic languages) expressing sudden, completed, and unrepeated action

Related Terms

semelfactive aspect

: The semelfactive aspect refers to a subclass of perfective verbs that denotes a momentary or punctiliar action (e.g., to sneeze, to blink)

Synonyms

momentane, momentary, instantaneous, punctual, nondurational

Antonyms

continuative, durative, experiential, frequentative, habitual, imperfective aspect, iterative aspect

Etymology

() From New Latin semelfactivus, equivalent to Latin semel (“once, a single time”) *sḗm (“one, together”); plus factive Latin factum (“event, occurrence”) facere (“to do”) *dʰeh₁- (“to put, to do”); plus the Latin adjectival suffix -ivus.