parti-genericadj.
/ˌpɑːtɪdʒᵻˈnɛrɪk/, U.S. /ˈˌpɑrdidʒəˈnɛrɪk/ Linguistics. rare.
That relates to an indefinite amount or a subset of the whole.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > other parts of speech > [adjective] > other spec.
numerala1398
partitivea1398
gentile1542
indefinitive1598
illative1611
integral1668
collective1751
modal1845
parti-generic1939
1939 P. Christophersen Articles ii. 33 We can distinguish three different significations of the zero-form: (1) The whole genus everywhere and at all times (toto-generic sense)... (2) An indefinite amount of the genus (parti-generic sense)... (3) (In negative phrases) nothing of the genus (nulli-generic sense).
1962 J. Söderlind in F. Behre Contrib. Eng. Syntax 103 They [sc. ‘uncountables and plural countables’ in zero-form] then refer either to the whole genus of their content (toto-generic sense) or to some indefinite amount or number of it (parti-generic sense).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1939