elative

[ee-luh-tiv, el-uh-]Grammar

adjective

noting a case, as in Finnish, whose function is to indicate motion out of or away from.

noun

an elative case.

an adjectival form, as in Arabic, denoting intensity or superiority, approximately equivalent to the comparative and superlative of other languages.

Origin of elative

1585–95; < Latin ēlāt(us) (see elate) + -ive

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British Dictionary definitions for elative

elative

adjective

(in the grammar of Finnish and other languages) denoting a case of nouns expressing a relation of motion or direction, usually translated by the English prepositions out of or away fromCompare illative (def. 3)

noun

the elative case
an elative word or speech element

Word Origin for elative

C19: from Latin ēlātus, past participle of efferre to carry out; see elate

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