- genitive
- \ \ see GENERAL
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Genitive — Gen i*tive, n. (Gram.) The genitive case. [1913 Webster] {Genitive absolute}, a construction in Greek similar to the ablative absolute in Latin. See {Ablative absolute}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
genitive — (adj.) late 14c., from O.Fr. genitif or directly from L. (casus) genitivus case expressing possession, source, origin, from genitus (pp. of gignere; see GENITAL (Cf. genital)); misused by Latin grammarians to render Gk. genike (ptosis) generic… … Etymology dictionary
genitive — Grammar ► ADJECTIVE ▪ denoting a case indicating possession or close association. ► NOUN ▪ a word in the genitive case. ORIGIN from Latin genitivus casus case of production or origin , from gignere beget … English terms dictionary
genitive — [jen′i tiv] adj. [ME genitif < OFr < L ( casus) genitivus, lit., (case) of orig. < genitus (see GENITAL): mistransl. < Gr genikē, generic (case), (case) of genus < Gr genos, GENUS] Gram. designating, of, or in a relational case… … English World dictionary
Genitive — Gen i*tive, a. [L. genitivus, fr. gignere, genitum, to beget: cf. F. g[ e]nitif. See {Gender}.] (Gram.) Of or pertaining to that case (as the second case of Latin and Greek nouns) which expresses source or possession. It corresponds to the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
genitive — /ˈdʒɛnətɪv / (say jenuhtiv) Grammar –adjective 1. denoting the case of a noun used to modify another noun, indicating possession and other relationships such as origin and association; compare Jane s wallet, Japan s ambassador, a week s work.… …
genitive — adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin genetivus, genitivus, literally, of generation (erroneous translation of Greek genikos genitive), from genitus Date: 14th century 1. of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical case marking… … New Collegiate Dictionary
genitive — [[t]ʤe̱nɪtɪv[/t]] N SING: the N In the grammar of some languages, the genitive, or the genitive case, is a noun case which is used mainly to show possession. In English grammar, a noun or name with s added to it, for example dog s or Anne s , is… … English dictionary
genitive — gen•i•tive [[t]ˈdʒɛn ɪ tɪv[/t]] adj. 1) gram. of or designating a grammatical case typically indicating possession, measure, origin, or other close association, as painter s, week s, author s, and women s in the painter s brush, a week s pay, the … From formal English to slang
genitive — genitival /jen i tuy veuhl/, adj. genitivally, adv. /jen i tiv/, Gram. adj. 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… … Universalium
genitive — 1. adjective Of or pertaining to that case (as the second case of Latin and Greek nouns) which expresses origin or possession. It corresponds to the possessive case in English. 2. noun a) The genitive case; the … Wiktionary