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dative - 6 dictionary results

da⋅tive

[dey-tiv]

Grammar

–adjective

1.	(in certain inflected languages, as Latin, Greek, and German) noting a case having as a distinctive function indication of the indirect object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.

–noun

2.	the dative case.

3.	a word or form in that case, as Latin regi in regi haec dicite meaning “tell this to the king.”

Origin:
1400–50; late ME datif < L datīvus (casus) dative (case), equiv. to dat(us) given (see date ¹ ) + -īvus -ive; trans. of Gk dotik

(ptôsis)

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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da·tive   (dā'tĭv) Pronunciation Key
adj.   Of, relating to, or being the grammatical case that marks the recipient of action, that often indicates the indirect object of the verb, and that can be used with prepositions or other function words corresponding in meaning to English to and for.
n.

The dative case.
A word or form in the dative case.

[Middle English datif, from Latin (cāsus) datīvus, (case) of giving (translation of Greek dotikē ptōsis), from datus, past participle of dare, to give; see dō- in Indo-European roots.]
da'tive·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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dative
noun
the category of nouns serving as the indirect object of a verb

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Main Entry: da·tive
Pronunciation: 'dA-tiv
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin dativus subject to appointment, from Latin, assigned (of a guardian), from datus, past participle of dare to give
in the civil law of Louisiana 1 : appointed by a judge
2 : established by judicial appointment <dative tutorship>

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Dative

Da"tive\, a. [L. dativus appropriate to giving, fr. dare to give. See 2d Date.]

1. (Gram.) Noting the case of a noun which expresses the remoter object, and is generally indicated in English by to or for with the objective.

2. (Law) (a) In one's gift; capable of being disposed of at will and pleasure, as an office. (b) Removable, as distinguished from perpetual; -- said of an officer. (c) Given by a magistrate, as distinguished from being cast upon a party by the law. --Burril. Bouvier.

Dative executor, one appointed by the judge of probate, his office answering to that of an administrator.

Dative

Da"tive\, n. [L. dativus.] The dative case. See Dative, a., 1.

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