particle (n.) (part, PART, Prt, PRT)

A term used in GRAMMATICAL description to refer to an INVARIABLE ITEM with grammatical FUNCTION, especially one which does not readily fit into a standard classification of PARTS OF SPEECH. In English, for example, the marker of the INFINITIVE, to, is often called a particle because, despite its surface similarity to a PREPOSITION, it really has nothing in common with it. Likewise, the unique characteristics of not have prompted some to label it a ‘NEGATIVE particle’, and the units in PHRASAL VERBS are often called ‘verbal particles’.

A term used in TAGMEMIC analysis to refer to a linguistic UNIT seen as a DISCRETE entity, definable in terms of FEATURES. It is contrasted with WAVE (where the unit’s CONTEXTUAL variability is analyzed) and FIELD (where its DISTRIBUTION is described).