ablative

1
[ ab-luh-tiv ]

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
  1. the ablative case. Abbreviation: abl.

  2. a word in that case, as Troiā in Latin Aenēas Troiā vēnit, “Aeneas came from Troy.”

Origin of ablative

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word ablātīvus.See ablate, -ive

Other words from ablative

  • ab·la·ti·val [ab-luh-tahy-vuhl], /ˌæb ləˈtaɪ vəl/, adjective

Words Nearby ablative

Other definitions for ablative (2 of 2)

ablative2
[ a-bley-tiv ]

adjective
  1. capable of or susceptible to ablation; tending to ablate: the ablative nose cone of a rocket.

Origin of ablative

2
First recorded in 1560–70; ablate + -ive

Other words from ablative

  • ab·la·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ablative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ablative

ablative

/ (ˈæblətɪv) grammar /


adjective
  1. (in certain inflected languages such as Latin) denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument, manner, or place of the action described by the verb

noun
    • the ablative case

    • a word or speech element in the ablative case

  1. taking away or removing: ablative surgery

  1. able to disintegrate or be worn away at a very high temperature: a thick layer of ablative material

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