Cumulative adjectives are two or more adjectives not separated by commas. In contrast to coordinate adjectives, they do not make sense in any other order and cannot be connected by and.

an enormous old redwood tree [redwood modifies tree; old modifies the phrase redwood tree; enormous modifies the phrase old redwood tree; an modifies enormous old redwood tree]

 

cumulative sentences

Cumulative sentences (also known as loose sentences) begin with a subject and a predicate and then add a series of phrases or clauses that amplify or explain the idea in the independent clause. (See also periodic sentences and sentence types.)

A single knoll rises out of the plain in Oklahoma , north and west of the Wichita range. [The subject, knoll, and predicate, rises, are followed by two prepositional phrases, a pair of adverbs, and another prepositional phrase.]

—N. Scott Momaday, "The Way to Rainy Mountain"

 

 

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