/ prɪˈdɪkətɪv; NAmE ˈpredɪkeɪtɪv/ adjective
( grammar ) ( of an adjective ) coming after a verb such as be, become, get, seem, look . Many adjectives, for example old can be either predicative as in The man is very old , or attributive as in an old man . Some, like asleep , can only be predicative.
► pre·dica·tive·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from Latin praedicativus , from praedicat- declared (in medieval Latin predicated), from the verb praedicare , from prae beforehand + dicare make known.