# Adjectives that modify only one noun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618 "2009-12-01T19:56:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/1 "2009-12-01T19:56:27Z")
Most adjectives can modify a large number of nouns – big house, big deal, big dog, etc. I was thinking about the adjective/adverb ajar. Looking it up, it can actually apply to just about anything that can be opened, but I’ve only heard it to describe the state of a door. Have you ever described a window as ajar? How about your fly? A jar of pickles? This made me wonder if there are any adjectives or adverbs that modify a sole noun or verb. Can you think of any? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/2 "2009-12-01T20:22:07Z")
Qwerty? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/3 "2009-12-01T20:34:47Z")
I think I’m glad that GM did not design clothing during the 1980s: _bing bing bing_ Your fly is ajar. _bing bing bing_ Your fly is ajar. Please close your fly. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/4 "2009-12-01T20:54:19Z")
A window can also be ajar. But as far as I know, only a gate can be ‘lych’. Only deeds are ever described as ‘derring.’ Only a spoon is ever ‘runcible’, though that’s kind of cheating since the word was made up by Edward Lear to describe a spoon with short tines one one end – ridiculous! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/5 "2009-12-01T20:57:14Z")
While not specifically adjectives or adverbs, [here is one list](http://www.gruts.com/misc/akimbos/akimbos.htm) of words that are typically tied to another word, although theoretically they don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/6 "2009-12-01T20:58:49Z")
I tried to use the word “impregnate” in Honors English in high school to describe someone getting surgical enhancements and the students thought i was special for doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/7 "2009-12-01T20:59:31Z")
I just halfway realized this with “monger”. It really only is used with “War” or “rumor”. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/8 "2009-12-01T21:02:05Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I just halfway realized this with “monger”. > > It really only is used with “War” or “rumor”. or fish, or fear, or hate, or whore ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/9 "2009-12-01T21:03:50Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I just halfway realized this with “monger”. > > It really only is used with “War” or “rumor”. and fish-sellers. \*Spry \*is only ever used to describe old people, and \*disgruntled \*is only used to describe workers. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/10 "2009-12-01T21:50:06Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > and fish-sellers. > > \*Spry \*is only ever used to describe old people, and \*disgruntled \*is only used to describe workers. Yeah, but can a worker ever be gruntled? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/11 "2009-12-01T21:53:00Z")
Articulate is only used to describe clean black people. ---
**Author:** ![Wash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9dc877/32.png) [@Wash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wash)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/12 "2009-12-01T22:03:49Z")
Points seem to be the only things that are ever moot. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/13 "2009-12-01T22:09:42Z")
> [@Wash](#): > > Points seem to be the only things that are ever moot. except for moot court, moot argument, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/14 "2009-12-01T22:17:00Z")
I can’t recall ever hearing anything other than iron being described as **wrought**. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/15 "2009-12-01T22:25:20Z")
I have never seen anything rood other than a screen. ETA: the only construction I’ve ever seen that uses the word kangaroo as an adjective (or adjectival subsitute?) is “kangaroo court”. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/16 "2009-12-01T22:41:42Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > I can’t recall ever hearing anything other than iron being described as **wrought**. ::nevermind:: ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/17 "2009-12-01T22:44:38Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I have never seen anything rood other than a screen. > > ETA: the only construction I’ve ever seen that uses the word kangaroo as an adjective (or adjectival subsitute?) is “kangaroo court”. both the Gore-Lieberman and Bush Cheney tickets were described as a kangaroo ticket meaning stronger second halves. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/18 "2009-12-01T22:46:17Z")
“Dampened” always seems to go with spirits. Alternatively, anytime it rains during some outdoor event, the rain DOESN’T dampen anyone’s spirits. Rain can dampen a lot of things, but one thing it never dampens is spirits. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/19 "2009-12-02T02:43:59Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > “Dampened” always seems to go with spirits. Alternatively, anytime it rains during some outdoor event, the rain DOESN’T dampen anyone’s spirits. Rain can dampen a lot of things, but one thing it never dampens is spirits. ‘Dampen spirits’ would mean ‘cause sadness’ wouldn’t it? Dampen means to stifle, smother, deaden, suppress. So the rain could dampen the ground as well as dampen your spirits. You can also dampen the sounds of a piano with the damper pedal. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618/20 "2009-12-02T03:07:14Z")
> [@The Devil's Grandmother](#): > > and disgruntled is only used to describe workers. And voters. > [@jjimm](#): > > I have never seen anything rood other than a screen. Rood mass; rood guild. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adjectives-that-modify-only-one-noun/519618.md?page=2)