I. də̇ˈmänstrə]d.]iv, dēˈ-, ]t] sometimes ˈdemənˌstrā] adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French demonstratif, from Latin demonstrativus, from demonstratus + -ivus -ive
1.
a. : demonstrating or manifesting as real and true : making evident : exhibiting conclusively
the oath of office … is completely demonstrative of the legislative opinion on this subject — John Marshall
b. : characterized by, established by, or employing demonstration
scientific honesty, however, makes us admit that where demonstrative knowledge ends only guessing begins — M.R.Cohen
2. of a word or morpheme : pointing out the person or thing that is directly or indirectly referred to and distinguishing it from others of the same class (as this in “who's this?”, that in “that dog”, here meaning “in this place”)
demonstrative pronoun
demonstrative adjective
demonstrative adverb
3. : epideictic
4.
a. : given to or characterized by a display of sentiment or feeling : expressed openly
the reception of the young aviator in the capital of France was cordial and demonstrative — Kenneth Colegrove
b. : effusive , exuberant
• de·mon·stra·tive·ly ]ə̇vlē, -li adverb
• de·mon·stra·tive·ness ]ə̇vnə̇s\ noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
: a demonstrative word or morpheme