Ergative Definition
ûrgə-tĭv
adjective
Designating, of, or in the case that is taken by the subject of a transitive verb in some languages, as Basque or Georgian, in which the direct object of a transitive verb and the subject of the related intransitive share the same case.
Webster's New World
Designating or of a verb or language whose transitive and intransitive uses are related in this way.
Webster's New World
noun
The ergative case.
American Heritage
An ergative inflection.
American Heritage
A nominal having an ergative form.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Ergative
Noun
Singular:
ergative
Plural:
ergativesOrigin of Ergative
-
From Greek ergatēs worker from ergon work werg- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From the Ancient Greek ἐργάτης (ergatēs, “worker”), from ἔργον (ergon, “work”).
From Wiktionary
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