What is "valency"

Valency \Val"en*cy\, n.; pl. Valencies. (Chem.)

1. See Valence.

2. A unit of combining power; a so-called bond of affinity.

alt. 1 (context graph theory English) The number of edges connected to a vertex in a graph 2 (context chemistry English) valence 3 (context linguistics English) The capacity of a verb to take a specific number of arguments n. 1 (context graph theory English) The number of edges connected to a vertex in a graph 2 (context chemistry English) valence 3 (context linguistics English) The capacity of a verb to take a specific number of arguments

1. n. the phenomenon of forming chemical bonds

2. (biology) a relative capacity to unite or react or interact as with antigens or a biological substrate [syn: valence]

3. (chemistry) a property of atoms or radicals; their combining power given in terms of the number of hydrogen atoms (or the equivalent) [syn: valence]

In linguistics, verb valency or valence is the number of arguments controlled by a verbal predicate. It is related, though not identical, to verb transitivity, which counts only object arguments of the verbal predicate. Verb valency, on the other hand, includes all arguments, including the subject of the verb. The linguistic meaning of valence derives from the definition of valency in chemistry. This scientific metaphor is due to Lucien Tesnière, who developed verb valency into a major component of his (what would later become known as) dependency grammar theory of syntax and grammar. The notion of valency first appeared as a comprehensive concept in Tesnière's posthumously published book (1959) Éléments de syntaxe structurale (Elements of structural syntax).