vocative

American  

[vok-uh-tiv] / ˈvɒk ə tɪv /

adjective

1. Grammar. (in certain inflected languages, as Latin) noting or pertaining to a case used to indicate that a noun refers to a person or thing being addressed.

2. of, relating to, or used in calling, specifying, or addressing.

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noun

Grammar.

1. the vocative case.

2. a word in the vocative, as Latin Paule “O Paul.”

vocative British  

/ ˈvɒkətɪv /

adjective

1. relating to, used in, or characterized by calling

2. grammar denoting a case of nouns, in some inflected languages, used when the referent of the noun is being addressed

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noun

1. grammar

   1. the vocative case

   2. a vocative noun or speech element

Other Word Forms

• vocatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of vocative

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin vocātīvus ( cāsus ) calling (case), equivalent to vocāt ( us ) ( see vocation) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

I get pedantic about the placement of the vocative comma in “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”

From The New Yorker • Dec. 18, 2018

Notice the abrupt change from third person "he" to vocative "thou" in the middle of verse four, the point at which the speaker is most in need of comfort.

From The Guardian • Feb. 7, 2011

Since Kunstler's role is usually to attack well-entrenched precedent he can be counted on for an original pro vocative argument.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lado! is a melancholy interjection in Serbian, whereas Lele! the vocative of Lela, the god of love, has frequently a cheerful association.

From An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics by Various

But it seems best to consider the vocative as only a function of the nominative form.

From Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Exercise Book with Inflections, Syntax, Selections for Reading, and Glossary by Smith, C. Alphonso (Charles Alphonso)

Related Words

• artful
• articulate
• eloquent
• facile
• loquacious
• talkative