Despite their simple syntactic form, adjective-noun combinations seem to have no straightforward semantic method that parallels
the simplicity of the syntax. Conventionally, adjectives are to blame for this behaviour. Such a belief has culminated in
the generally accepted view that adjectives should be semantically analyzed as belonging to a hierarchy of the following structure
[1, 2]:
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Intersective e.g. red as in That is a red rose
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Subsective:
– Subsective-only e.g. veteran as in John is a veteran soldier
– Double or “doublet” e.g. beautiful as in Maria is a beautiful dancer
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| •
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Non-subsective:
– Non-privative e.g. potential as in John is a potential candidate
– Privative e.g. fake as in That is a fake gun
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