| 释义 |
ˈnexal, a.
[f. L. nex-us or nex-um, bond, obligation + -al1.]
1. Rom. Law. Characterized by the imposition of servitude as a penalty on a defaulting debtor.
1886Encycl. Brit. XX. 675/2 The nexal creditor's imprisonment of his defaulting debtor. Ibid. 681/1 The Pœtilian law of 428, abolishing the nexal contract. 1901Greenidge Rom. Public Life 91 It is probable that in early times plebeian law recognised no debt except that created by the nexal contract.
2. Linguistics. Of or pertaining to a nexus (sense 1 c).
1933English Studies XV. 148, I don't wish to speak to you ever again..is a more polite formula for: I wish never to speak to you again. We have here a very curious case of ‘cleaving of never’ and ‘nexal attraction’. 1937V. Mathesius in Mélanges de Linguistique et de Philologie offerts à J. van Ginneken 82 Professor Jespersen has repeatedly called attention to the difference between what he calls special negation and what he calls nexal negation. |