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facultative

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facultative


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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 
 
  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}. 
 
  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 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  facultative 
  adj  1:  of  or  relating  to  the  mental  faculties 
  2:  (biology)  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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