genitive

[ jen-i-tiv ]
See synonyms for genitive on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. similar to such a case form in function or meaning.

noun
  1. the genitive case.

  2. a word in the genitive case.

  1. a construction noting this case or the relationship usually expressed by it.

Origin of genitive

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Medieval Latin genitīvus, equivalent to genit(us) (past participle of gignere to beget) + -īvus-ive

Other words from genitive

  • gen·i·ti·val [jen-i-tahy-vuhl], /ˌdʒɛn ɪˈtaɪ vəl/, adjective
  • gen·i·ti·val·ly, adverb
  • un·gen·i·tive, adjective

Words Nearby genitive

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How to use genitive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for genitive

genitive

/ (ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv) grammar /


adjective
  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

noun
    • the genitive case

    • a word or speech element in this case

Origin of genitive

1
C14: from Latin genetīvus relating to birth, from gignere to produce

Derived forms of genitive

  • genitival (ˌdʒɛnɪˈtaɪvəl), adjective
  • genitivally, adverb

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