genitive
Use Genitive in a sentence
ɪ adjective
1.
(in certain inflected languages) noting a case of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives, used primarily to express possession, measure, or origin: as John's hat, week's vacation, duty's call.
2.
noting an affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.
3.
similar to such a case form in function or meaning.
noun
4.
the genitive case.
5.
a word in the genitive case.
6.
a construction noting this case or the relationship usually expressed by it.
00:10
Genitive
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is generality. Does it mean:
| a police officer in any of several European countries, esp. a French police officer. |
| an indefinite, unspecific, or undetailed statement: |
Compare possessive.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin genitīvus, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere to beget) + -īvus -ive
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin genitīvus, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere to beget) + -īvus -ive
Related forms
gen·i·ti·val·ly, adverb
un·gen·i·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To genitive
Collins
World English Dictionary
genitive (ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in inflected languages used to indicate a relation of ownership or association, usually translated by English of |
| —n | |
| 2. | a. the genitive case |
| b. a word or speech element in this case | |
| [C14: from Latin genetīvus relating to birth, from gignere to produce] | |
| genitival | |
| —adj | |
| geni'tivally | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
genitive
late 14c., from L. casus genitivus "case expressing origin," from *geneta "birth," misused by L. grammarians to render Gk. genike (ptosis) "generic (case)," expressing race or kind (see genus).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
We could go on and explain the nominative and genitive cases but that's not necessary.
In the genitive case morphological redetermination becomes elaborate.
The genitive case expresses possession, measurement, or source.
Like nouns, a genitive is given for the purpose of inflection.
Nearby Words
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