TOP

Definition of dative noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dative

noun
 
/ˈdeɪtɪv/
 
/ˈdeɪtɪv/
 (grammar)
jump to other results
  1. (in some languages) the form of a noun, a pronoun or an adjective when it is the indirect object of a verb or is connected with the indirect object
    • In the sentence, ‘I sent her a postcard’, the word ‘her’ is in the dative.
    compare ablative, accusative, genitive, instrumental (2), locative, nominative, vocativeTopics Languagec2
    Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin (casus) dativus ‘(case) of giving’, from dat- ‘given’, from the verb dare.
See dative in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: dative

Other results

All matches

Nearby words

previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day