In grammar terms, a participle is an adjective (descriptive
word) made from a verb.(noun) An example of a participle is
"sleeping" in the phrase "sleeping dogs." See participle in
Webster's New World College Dictionary Origin: OFr < L
participium < particeps, participating, partaking < participare,
participate: from participating in the nature of both v. & adj.
See participle in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Origin: Middle
English Origin: , from Old French Origin: , variant of participe
Origin: , from Latin participium (translation of Greek metokhē,
sharing, partaking, participle) Origin: , from particeps,
particip-, partaker; see participate. Usage Note: Participial
phrases such as walking down the street or having finished her
homework are commonly used in English to modify nouns or
pronouns, but care must be taken in incorporating such phrases
into sentences. Readers will ordinarily associate a participle
with the noun, noun phrase, or pronoun adjacent to it, and
misplacement may produce comic effects as