Phrase guide

praegnans constructio

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈphɹeɪɡ.nænz‿kɒnˈstɹʊk.tiː.oʊ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A construction commonly found in Greek and Hebrew in which either a verb of motion is paired with a locative prepositional phrase or a static verb is paired with an allative preposition phrase.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • "I attacked the dog into the fire" employs a rough form of praegnans constructio.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin cōnstructiō (“a grammatical construction”) and Latin praegnāns (“pregnant”).