a range of values with a lower and an upper limit between which an
unknown population parameter value is expected to lie with a certain
degree of probability. For example, a 95% confidence interval indicates
that we are 95% confident (or there is a 95% probability) that an unknown
population parameter value will fall within that interval. The wider the
CI, the more confident we are that it is likely to contain the population
parameter value.confirmatory factor analysisn
see factor analysis
conjoiningn conjoinv
(in generative grammar), a term used for the linking together of words,
phrases, or clauses, etc., which are of equal status. For example:
John likes applesand pears.
Betty went to the butcher’sand to the supermarket.
see also conjunction, embedding
conjugation^1 n
a class of verbs which follow the same pattern for changes in tense, person,
or number. For example, in French there are four regular conjugations as
well as irregular verbs. The verbs donner “to give”, parler “to speak”, chercher
“to look for”, etc., are described as belonging to the -er(or 1st) conjugation.
conjugation^2 n conjugatev
the way in which a particular verb changes (conjugates) for tense, person,
or number. For example, the French verb donner “to give”: je donne
“I give”, nous donnons “we give”, je donnerai “I shall give”,j’ ai donné
“I have given, I gave”.
conjunctn
see adjunct
conjunctionn
also connective
1 a word which joins words, phrases, or clauses together, such as but, and,
when:
John andMary went.
She sings butI don’t.
Units larger than single words which function as conjunctions are some-
times known as conjunctives, for example so that,as long as,as if
She ran fast so thatshe could catch the bus.
confirmatory factor analysis