Facultative definition

Facultative





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2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Facultative \Fac"ul*ta*tive\, a. [L. facultas, -atis, faculty:
     cf. F. facultatif, G. fakultativ.]
     1. Having relation to the grant or exercise faculty, or
        authority, privilege, license, or the like hence,
        optional; as, facultative enactments, or those which
        convey a faculty, or permission; the facultative


        referendum of Switzerland is one that is optional with the
        people and is necessary only when demanded by petition;
        facultative studies; -- opposed to {obligatory} and
        {compulsory}, and sometimes used with to.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     2. Of such a character as to admit of existing under various
        forms or conditions, or of happening or not happening, or
        the like; specif.: (Biol.) Having the power to live under
        different conditions; as, a facultative parasite, a plant
        which is normally saprophytic, but which may exist wholly
        or in part as a parasite; -- opposed to {obligate}.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     3. (Physiol.) Pertaining to a faculty or faculties.
  
              In short, there is no facultative plurality in the
              mind; it is a single organ of true judgment for all
              purposes, cognitive or practical.     --J.
                                                    Martineau.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  facultative
       adj 1: of or relating to the mental faculties
       2: able to exist under more than one set of conditions; "a
          facultative parasite can exist as a parasite or a
          saprophyte" [ant: {obligate}]
       3: granting a privilege or permission or power to do or not do
          something; "a facultative enactment"
       4: not compulsory; "facultative courses in the sciences"

















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