genitive
(in certain inflected languages) noting a case of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives, used primarily to express possession, measure, or origin: as John's hat, week's vacation, duty's call.
noting an affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.
similar to such a case form in function or meaning.
the genitive case.
a word in the genitive case.
a construction noting this case or the relationship usually expressed by it.
Origin of genitive
1Other words from genitive
- gen·i·ti·val [jen-i-tahy-vuhl], /ˌdʒɛn ɪˈtaɪ vəl/, adjective
- gen·i·ti·val·ly, adverb
- un·gen·i·tive, adjective
- Compare possessive.
Words Nearby genitive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use genitive in a sentence
These names are for the most part a Greek letter prefixed to the genitive case of the Latin name of the constellation.
A Text-Book of Astronomy | George C. ComstockMoreover, fet of the plural applies only to the nominative and accusative; the genitive has fota, the dative fotum.
Language | Edward SapirThe subject of warni is warschipe contained in the preceding genitive; see 6/18.
From Muskeeg, a swamp or bog, and o, the sign of the genitive.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 | Henry Rowe SchoolcraftDr. Lowth, on the other part, supposes the possessive pronouns mine and thine to be genitive cases.
A Grammar of the English Tongue | Samuel Johnson
British Dictionary definitions for genitive
/ (ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv) grammar /
denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in inflected languages used to indicate a relation of ownership or association, usually translated by English of
the genitive case
a word or speech element in this case
Origin of genitive
1Derived forms of genitive
- genitival (ˌdʒɛnɪˈtaɪvəl), adjective
- genitivally, adverb
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
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