Webster's English Dictionary

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expletive

1. ex.ple.tive \'ek-spl*t-iv, esp Brit ik-'sple--tiv\ aj [LL expletivus, 
   fr. L expletus, pp. of exple-re to fill ou]t, fr. ex- + ple-re to fill 1: 
   serving to fill up {~ phrases}  2: marked by the use of expletives 
2. expletive n 1a: a syllable, word, or phrase inserted to fill a vacancy 
   (as in a sentenc e or a metrical line) without adding to the sense; esp : a 
   word (as it in "it is easy to say so" or "make it clear which you prefer") 
   that occupies the position of the subject or object of a verb in normal 
   English word order and anticipates a subsequent word or phrase that 
   supplies the needed meaningful content 1b: an exclamatory word or phrase; 
   esp : one that is obscene or pro fane 2: one that serves as a filler