nexus (n.), (plural nexi)

(1) In the approach to GRAMMAR of Otto Jespersen (1860–1943), a term which describes the kind of relationship which exists between an element and its PREDICATE, such as ‘subject of’ or ‘object of’ (as in the dog barks); it is distinguished from a junction, which is a relationship between a primary word and an ADJUNCT (e.g. the barking dog). Several other notions were derived from this basic terminology, e.g. ‘nexus-word’, ‘nexus-question’.

(2) A term used in ROLE AND REFERENCE GRAMMAR to describe that part of the grammar which deals with the SYNTACTIC relationships obtaining between sub-CLAUSAL units. It is seen in association with a theory of JUNCTURE.