Collective noun for word descriptors

[ClulessChris]

Is there such a thin as a collective noun for word descriptors, such as Verbs and Nouns?

I don't know why but question just popped in to my head this morning, and I feel it may be significant : )

Never knock on Death's door: ring the bell and run away! Death really hates that!

 

[KenCunningham]

The best I can come up with are 'Parts of Speech', perhaps.

I want to be good, is that not enough?

 

[p5wizard]

lexical category
word class
lexical class

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexical_category

p5

HTH,

p5wizard

 

[risby]

Parts of speech" is far and away the most commonly occuring phrase on the internet for these word descriptors. I have found no single word for them but other phrases are "word classes" or "lexical categories".

I was interested to read this NYTimes article copied in The Association for Latin Teaching's blog about anthimeria; words that move from one class to another e.g. to verb a noun.


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I phoned the local ramblers club today, and this bloke just went on and on.