ablative absolute

American  

noun

Latin Grammar.

1. a construction not dependent upon any other part of the sentence, consisting of a noun and a participle, noun and adjective, or two nouns, in which both members are in the ablative case, as Latin viā factā, “the road having been made.”

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ablative absolute British  

noun

1. an absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier; for example, hostibus victis, "the enemy having been beaten"

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Etymology

Origin of ablative absolute

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ablative absolute

But apparently, only a few youngsters mull over the ablative absolute out of sheer joy.

From Time Magazine Archive

You will recognise this as an ablative absolute phrase.

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund

And he says 'having no children'—in Latin the words may mean in case he had none, being in the ablative absolute.

From Sant' Ilario by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

He rose and flunked horribly in an attempt to classify an ablative absolute and answered "unprepared" when the Roman, maliciously pressing his advantage, insisted on his translating.

From Skippy Bedelle His Sentimental Progress From the Urchin to the Complete Man of the World by Fuhr, Ernest

As for the ablative absolute, its reconstruction and regeneration have been the inspiring principle of my studious manhood.

From Average Jones by Adams, Samuel Hopkins