Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Participle
Par′ti-ci-ple
,Noun.
[F.
participe
, L. participium
, fr. particeps
sharing, participant; pars
, gen. partis
, a part + capere
to take. See Participate
.] 1.
(Gram.)
A part of speech partaking of the nature of both verb and adjective; a form of a verb, or verbal adjective, modifying a noun, but taking the adjuncts of the verb from which it is derived. In the sentences: a letter is
written
; being
asleep he did not hear; exhausted
by toil he will sleep soundly, – written
, being
, and exhausted
are participles
. By a
participle
, [I understand] a verb in an adjectival aspect. Earle.
☞ Present participles, called also imperfect, or incomplete, participles, end in -ing. Past participles, called also perfect, or complete, participles, for the most part end in -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n. A participle when used merely as an attribute of a noun, without reference to time, is called an adjective, or a participial adjective; as, a written constitution; a rolling stone; the exhausted army. The verbal noun in -ing has the form of the present participle. See
Verbal noun
, under Verbal
, Adj.
2.
Anything that partakes of the nature of different things.
[Obs.]
The
participles
or confines between plants and living creatures. Bacon.
Webster 1828 Edition
Participle
P`ARTICIPLE
,Noun.
1.
In grammar, a word so called because it partakes of the properties of a noun and of a verb; as having, making, in English; habens, faciens, in Latin. The English participles having, making, become nouns by prefixing the to them; as the having of property; the making of instruments. But all participles do not partake of the properties of a noun, as the passive participles for example, had, made.Participles sometimes lose the properties of a verb and become adjectives, as willing, in the phrase, a willing heart; engaging, as engaging manners; accomplished, as an accomplished orator.
2.
Any thing that participates of different things. [Not used.]