zero derive

English

Alternative forms

• zero-derive

Etymology

A back-formation from zero derivation, as if zero +‎ derive.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌzɪəɹəʊ dəˈɹaɪv/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌziɹəʊ dəˈɹaɪv/

Verb

zero derive (third-person singular simple present zero derives, present participle zero deriving, simple past and past participle zero derived)

1. (linguistics) To derive a word from another word (of a differing part of speech) without modification; to perform zero derivation.
   • 1986, Terence Odlin, “Markedness and the zero-derived denominal verb in English: synchronic, diachronic, and acquisition correlates”, in Fred Eckman, Edith A. Moravcsik, Jessica Wirth, editors, Markedness‎^[1], →ISBN, page 160:

     Table 2. Thirty adjective lexemes which zero-derive into verbs.

   • 2013 August 29, John Peterson, “Parts of speech in Kharia: a formal account”, in Jan Rijkhoff, Eva van Lier, editors, Flexible Word Classes: Typological studies of underspecified parts of speech‎^[2], →ISBN, page 144:

     […] assuming the presence of lexical classes in Kharia would force us to productively zero-derive verbs not from nouns but rather from entire NPs, i.e. not in the lexicon but in the syntax.

   • 2014 February 3, Keith Allan, Linguistic Meaning (RLE Linguistics A: General Linguistics)‎^[3], →ISBN, Lexicon semantics, page 220:

     Some adjectives zero derive from adverbs, e.g. daily, down, faraway, far out, monthly, up, way out, well off (note that many derive from a pair of adverbs).