agentive

[ ey-juhn-tiv ]

adjective

, Grammar.

1. pertaining to, or productive of, a form that indicates an agent or agency.
2. (in case grammar) pertaining to the semantic role or case of a noun phrase that indicates the volitional or primary causer of the action expressed by a verb.

noun

1. an agentive word or suffix.
2. the agentive case.

agentive

/ ˈeɪdʒəntɪv; eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. (in some inflected languages) denoting a case of nouns, etc, indicating the agent described by the verb
2. (of a speech element) indicating agency

   ``-er'' in ``worker'' is an agentive suffix

noun

1. 1. the agentive case
   2. a word or element in the agentive case

Word History and Origins

Origin of agentive¹

agent + -ive