Definition:
A word that does not change its form through inflection and does not easily fit into the established system of parts of speech. Particles are closely linked to verbs to form multi-word verbs (for example, go away). Other particles include not and to used with an infinitive.
Etymology:
From the Latin, "a share, part"Examples and Observations:
- "Particles are short words . . . that with just one or two exceptions are all prepositions unaccompanied by any complement of their own. Some of the most common prepositions belonging to the particle category . . .: along, away, back, by, down, forward, in, off, on, out, over, round, under, up."
(Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum, A Student's Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006) - "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
(Philip K. Dick) - "Among individual words commonly so classed are the negative particle not (and its contraction n't), the infinitival particle to (to go; to run), the imperative particles do, don't (Do tell me; Don't tell me) and let, let's (Let me see now; Let's go). There is also a set of adverbial and prepositional particles that combine with verbs to form phrasal verbs (out in look out; up in turn up) and prepositional verbs (at in get at; for in care for)."
(Sidney Greenbaum, "Particle," Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford Univ. Press, 1992) - "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
(Henry David Thoreau) - "I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."
(George W. Bush) - "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."
(Satchel Paige) - Nigel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and . . .
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel: Exactly.
(This Is Spinal Tap, 1984)
Pronunciation: PAR-ti-kul
