attributive genitive

noun phrase

Meaning

A grammatical construction where a possessive noun phrase functions as an adjective to modify another noun, typically indicating origin, characteristic, or association rather than literal possession.

Examples

  • The author used an attributive genitive to describe the character's journey.
  • In the phrase 'a summer's day', the possessive functions as an attributive genitive.

Synonyms: possessive adjective, genitive of classification, possessive modifier, adjectival genitive