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accusative

 - 5 dictionary results

ac⋅cu⋅sa⋅tive

  [uh-kyoo-zuh-tiv]
Use accusative in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Grammar.
a. (in certain inflected languages, as Latin, Greek, or Russian) noting a case whose distinctive function is to indicate the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.
b. similar to such a case form in function or meaning.
2. Linguistics. pertaining to a type of language in which there is an accusative case or in which subjects of transitive verbs behave the same way as subjects of intransitive verbs. Compare ergative (def. 2).
3. accusatory.
–noun
4. an accusative case.
5. a word in an accusative case.
6. a form or construction of similar function.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME (< MF) < L accūsātīvus, equiv. to ac- ac- + -cūsātīvus, comb. form of causātīvus (see causative ) a loan-trans. of Gk aitiatik, in the sense of pointing to the origin or cause, accusing)

Related forms:
ac⋅cu⋅sa⋅tive⋅ly, adverb

ac⋅cu⋅sa⋅to⋅ry

  [uh-kyoo-zuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
–adjective
containing an accusation; accusing: an accusatory look.
Also, accusative.

Origin:
1595–1605; < L accūsātōrius, equiv. to accūsā(re) to accuse + -tōrius -tory 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To accusative
ac·cu·sa·tive   (ə-kyōō'zə-tĭv)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or being the grammatical case that is the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.

  2. Accusatory.

n.  

  1. The accusative case.

  2. A word or form in the accusative case.


[Middle English acusatif, from Old French, from Latin (cāsus) accūsātīvus, (case) of accusation (mistranslation of Greek aitiātikē (ptōsis), causal (case), (case) indicating the thing caused by the verb, from aitiā, cause, also accusation, charge), from accūsātus, past participle of accūsāre, to accuse; see accuse.]
ac·cu'sa·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.
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Word Origin & History

accusative 
case whose primary function is to express destination or goal of motion, 1434, from Anglo-Fr. accusatif, from O.Fr. acusatif, from L. casus accusativus "case of accusing," from accusatus, pp. of accusare (see accuse). Translating Gk. ptosis aitiatike "case of that which is caused," on similarity of Gk. aitiasthai "accuse." Gk. aitia is the root of both, and means both "cause" and "accusation," hence the confusion of the Romans. A more correct translation would have been casus causativus.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ac·cus·a·to·ry
Pronunciation: &-'kyü-z&-"tOr-E
Function: adjective
1 : containing or expressing an accusation accusatory pleading>
2 : ACCUSATORIAL
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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