datively

Variant of dative

dative definition

da·tive (dāt′iv)

adjective

Gram. designating, of, or in the case of the indirect object of a finite verb

Etymology: ME < L dativus, relating to giving < datus (see date); its grammatical use in LL (casus) dativus, dat. (case), translates Gr dotikē

noun

  1. the dative case: in English this case may be expressed analytically by to or by word order (Ex.: I gave the book to Jack, I gave him the book)
  2. a word or phrase in this case

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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