- This word was made up when the speaker was put on the spot and asked how they would describe the word “swag.” They probably used it because they couldn’t decide if it was a noun or an adjective and saw how it could fit both categories, so the blend was a way of expressing that uncertainty. It also shows how the definition of the word itself is somewhat fuzzy, just like the word nounjective. It’s not a technical term, but it would probably be understood by most English speakers if they heard it used in context.
nounjective1
noun Nonce word, blending
A word that has the characteristics of being both a noun and an adjective
Etymology : Noun comes from Latin nomen, meaning “name,” through Old French nom with the same meaning. In the 1400s, Old English metonymically expanded the meaning the be “anything with a name,” one way of understanding broadly what a noun is. Hilariously, adjective is actually 14th century clipping of Old English noun adjective, meaning “a word used to qualify a noun.” The adjective part of that comes through Old French adjectif from Latin adjectivum, with the same meaning as the modern day. Broken into parts, ad- meant “to,” and -iacere meant “throw”; something that was thrown onto a noun.
Source : “No, I’d say it’s, like, a nounjective.” -Interviewee in “Swag” video, c. 2013
Last modified: 4 December 2016