Grammar

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɡɹæm.É™(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -æmÉ™(r)

Alternative forms

• grammary

Origin

From Middle English gramarye, gramery, from Old French gramaire ("classical learning"), from Latin grammatica, from Ancient Greek γραμματική (grammatike, "skilled in writing"), from γράμμα (gramma, "line of writing"), from γράφω (grapho, "write"), from Proto-Indo-European *gerebh- ("to scratch").

Full definition of grammar

Noun

1. A system of rules and principles for speaking and writing a language.
2. (uncountable, linguistics) The study of the internal structure of words (morphology) and the use of words in the construction of phrases and sentences (syntax).
3. A book describing the rules of grammar of a language.
4. (computing theory) A formal system specifying the syntax of a language.
• 2006, Patrick Blackburn · Johan Bos · Kristina Striegnitz, Learn Prolog Now!, §8.2Because real lexicons are big and complex, from a software engineering perspective it is best to write simple grammars that have a simple, well-defined way, of pulling out the information they need from vast lexicons. That is, grammars should be thought of as separate entities which can access the information contained in lexicons. We can then use specialised mechanisms for efficiently storing the lexicon and retrieving data from it.
5. (computing theory) A formal system defining a formal language
6. The basic rules or principles of a field of knowledge or a particular skill.
• 2011, Javier Solana and Daniel Innerarity, Project Syndicate, The New Grammar of Power:We must learn a new grammar of power in a world that is made up more of the common good – or the common bad – than of self-interest or national interest.
7. (British, archaic) A textbook.a grammar of geography
8. (UK) A grammar school.
• 2012, Graeme Paton, A green light for more grammars? (in The Daily Telegraph, 11 January 2012)

Synonyms

• (linguistics) morpho-syntax from the relationship between morphology and syntax

Derived terms

• grammar school
• grammarchecker
• grammarian

Related terms

• glamour

Verb

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To discourse according to the rules of grammar; to use grammar.