dative

American  

[dey-tiv] / ˈdeɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. (in certain inflected languages, as Latin, Greek, and German) noting a case having as a distinctive function indication of the indirect object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.

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noun

1. the dative case.

2. a word or form in that case, as Latin regi in regi haec dicite meaning “tell this to the king.”

dative British  

/ ˈdeɪtɪv, deɪˈtaɪvəl /

adjective

1. denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives used to express the indirect object, to identify the recipients, and for other purposes

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noun

1. 1. the dative case

   2. a word or speech element in this case

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• datival
  adjective
• nondatival
  adjective
• datively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of dative

1400–50; late Middle English datif < Latin datīvus ( casus ) dative (case), equivalent to dat ( us ) given ( see date ¹) + -īvus -ive; translation of Greek dotikḗ ( ptôsis )

Example Sentences

By an extension of this construction the poets sometimes use the Dative to denote the limit of motion; as,— dum Latiō deōs īnferret, till he should bring his gods to Latium.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

The commonest use of the Dative is to denote the person to whom something is given, said, or done.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

She died in October 1575, and in the Confirmation of her Testament Dative, she is styled "ane honorabill Lady Gryssell Sympill, Lady Stanehous."

From The Works of John Knox, Vol. 1 (of 6) by Laing, David

Gun governs either the Nominative or Dative; as, gun chrioch, without end, Heb. vii.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

NOTE.—It is to be borne in mind that these verbs do not take the Dative by virtue of their apparent English equivalence, but simply because they are intransitive, and adapted to an indirect object.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)