definitions
  • synonyms

agentive

[ ey-juh n-tiv ]
/ ˈeɪ dʒən tɪv /

adjective Grammar.

pertaining to, or productive of, a form that indicates an agent or agency.
(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

an agentive word or suffix.
the agentive case.

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Nearby words

agent orange, agent provocateur, agent-general, agential, agentival, agentive, agentry, ager, ageratum, agesilaus ii, ageusia

Origin of agentive

agent + -ive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for agentive

agentive

agential (eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl)

/ (ˈeɪdʒəntɪv) grammar /

adjective

(in some inflected languages) denoting a case of nouns, etc, indicating the agent described by the verb
(of a speech element) indicating agency``-er'' in ``worker'' is an agentive suffix

noun

  1. the agentive case
  2. a word or element in the agentive case
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012