Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

ablative

 - 6 dictionary results

ab⋅la⋅tive

1  [ab-luh-tiv] Grammar
Use ablative in a Sentence
–adjective
1. (in some inflected languages) noting a case that has among its functions the indication of place from which or, as in Latin, place in which, manner, means, instrument, or agent.
–noun
2. the ablative case.
3. a word in that case, as Troiā in Latin Aenēas Troiā vēnit, “Aeneas came from Troy.”
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L ablātīvus. See ablate, -ive

Related forms:
ab⋅la⋅ti⋅val  [ab-luh-tahy-vuhl] , adjective

ab⋅la⋅tive

2  [a-bley-tiv]
–adjective
capable of or susceptible to ablation; tending to ablate: the ablative nose cone of a rocket.
Origin:
1560–70; ablate + -ive

Related forms:
ab⋅la⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ablative
ab·la·tive 1   (āb'lə-tĭv)   
adj.  Of, relating to, or being a grammatical case indicating separation, direction away from, sometimes manner or agency, and the object of certain verbs. It is found in Latin and other Indo-European languages.
n.  

  1. The ablative case.

  2. A word in this case.


[Middle English, from Latin ablātīvus, from ablātus, carried away; see ablation.]
ab·la·tive 2   (ā-blā'tĭv)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or capable of ablation.

  2. Tending to ablate.


[From ablation.]
ab·la'tive·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

ablative 
c.1434, from M.Fr. ablatif, from L. (casus) ablativus "(case) of removal," expressing direction from a place or time, coined by Julius Caesar from ablatus "taken away," pp. of auferre "carrying away," from ab- "away" + ferre "carry" (see infer).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ab·la·tive
Pronunciation: a-'blA-tiv, &-
Function: adjective
: relating to or involving surgical ablation <ablativetreatment> <ablative techniques>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see ablative on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way