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expletive

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
ex·ple·tive  (kspl-tv)
n.
1. An exclamation or oath, especially one that is profane, vulgar, or obscene.
2.
a. A word or phrase that does not contribute any meaning but is added only to fill out a sentence or a metrical line.
b. Linguistics A word or other grammatical element that has no meaning but is needed to fill a syntactic position, such as the words it and there in the sentences It's raining and There are many books on the table.
adj.
Added or inserted in order to fill out something, such as a sentence or a metrical line.

[From Late Latin expltvus, serving to fill out, from Latin expltus, past participle of explre, to fill out : ex-, ex- + plre, to fill; see pel-1 in Indo-European roots.]

expletive [iks-plee-tiv]
Noun
an exclamation or swearword expressing emotion rather than meaning [Latin explere to fill up]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.expletiveexpletive - profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger; "expletives were deleted"
profanity - vulgar or irreverent speech or action
2.expletive - a word or phrase conveying no independent meaning but added to fill out a sentence or metrical line
utterance, vocalization - the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
Translations
Spanish expletive [ɪkˈspliːtɪv] nimprecación f
French expletive [ɪkˈspliːtɪv] njuron m
German expletive [ɪksˈpliːtɪv] nKraftausdruck m
Italian expletive [ɪkˈspliːtɪv] nimprecazione f

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Not that he was calling upon God; it was a mere expletive, but it came from his soul.
He was detestably poor, and this was the reason, no doubt, that his expletive expressions about betting, seldom took a pecuniary turn.
I expelled the nasty stuff with a strong English expletive and said, "Foreigner, beware
 
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