distributive meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

distributive

adj

/dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/

Etymology From Middle French distributif, from Latin distribūtīvus.

Relating to distribution.

Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing a proper share to each.

[I]t is worth obſerving the diſtributive Juſtice of the Authors, which is conſtantly applied to the Puniſhment of Virtue, and the Reward of Vice; […]1709, [Jonathan Swift], A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners. […], London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], →OCLC, page 40:

Mathematics, Sciences A property of functions that have a rule describing how the function can be performed to the individual components of another operation.

If function f is distributive with respect to function g, then f(a,g(b,c))=g(f(a,b),f(a,c)).
If the operation ⋆ is distributive with respect to the operation ∘, then a⋆(b∘c)=(a⋆b)∘(a⋆c).

Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences Assigning the species of a general term.

Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively.

a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as "each", "either", or "every"
a distributive numeral, such as Latin "bini" (two by two)

Derived terms: distributive education, distributive justice, distributive lattice, distributively, distributiveness, distributive number, distributivism, nondistributive, selfdistributive, semidistributive, temporal distributive

distributive

noun

Etymology From Middle French distributif, from Latin distribūtīvus.

Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences distributive case

Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A distributive adjective or pronoun.

Mathematics, Sciences A distributive numeral.