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

• datival
  adjective
• datively
  adverb
• nondatival
  adjective

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

The Dative is used to denote agency— 1.

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

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

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

Dative, dāt′iv, adj. that is given or appointed.—n. the dative case, the oblique case of nouns, &c.—generally indicated in English by to or for.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Mar, and gus or gu, when prefixed to a Noun without the Article, usually govern the Dative case; as, mar nighin, as a daughter, 2 Sam. xii.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

The Dative is used only after a preposition.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander