elative

American  

[ee-luh-tiv, el-uh-] / ˈi lə tɪv, ˈɛl ə- /

adjective

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

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noun

1. an elative case.

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

elative British  

/ ˈiːlətɪv /

adjective

1. (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 from Compare illative

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noun

1. 1. the elative case

   2. an elative word or speech element

Etymology

Origin of elative

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