dative

[ dey-tiv ]

/ ˈdeɪ tɪv /

Grammar

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adjective

(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.

noun

the dative case.

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

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who

whom

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Origin of dative

1400–50; late Middle English datif<Latin datīvus (casus) dative (case), equivalent to dat(us) given (see date¹) + -īvus-ive; translation of Greek dotikḗ (ptôsis)

OTHER WORDS FROM dative

da·ti·val

[dey-tahy-vuhl], /deɪˈtaɪ vəl/, adjectiveda·tive·ly, adverbnon·da·ti·val, adjective

Words nearby dative

date stamp, dating, dating agency, dating bar, dating nail, dative, dative bond, dato, datolite, Datong, datu

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dative in a sentence

Moreover, fet of the plural applies only to the nominative and accusative; the genitive has fota, the dative fotum.
Language|Edward Sapir
Probably folc should be taken as dative, or folke should be read; and sends it to the people and thereby betokens &c.
Selections from Early Middle English 1130-1250: Part II: Notes|Various
Every accusative resembles either the nominative or the dative; if the latter, it ends in -e.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 6 (of 7) -- Introduction, Glossary, and Indexes|Geoffrey Chaucer
If a final -e appears, it is usually in the dative case; but even in this case, it is frequently dropped.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 6 (of 7) -- Introduction, Glossary, and Indexes|Geoffrey Chaucer

Whos occurs as expressing a genitive; and whom for a dative; but we never find who as a nominative.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 6 (of 7) -- Introduction, Glossary, and Indexes|Geoffrey Chaucer

British Dictionary definitions for dative

dative

/ (ˈdeɪtɪv) grammar /

adjective

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

noun

the dative case
a word or speech element in this case

Derived forms of dative

datival (deɪˈtaɪvəl), adjectivedatively, adverb

Word Origin for dative

C15: from Latin datīvus, from dare to give; translation of Greek dotikos

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