vocative

[ vok-uh-tiv ]
See synonyms for vocative on Thesaurus.com
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.

nounGrammar.
  1. the vocative case.

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

Origin of vocative

1
1400–50; late Middle English <Latin vocātīvus (cāsus) calling (case), equivalent to vocāt(us) (see vocation) + -īvus-ive

Other words from vocative

  • voc·a·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for vocative

vocative

/ (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

noun
  1. grammar

    • the vocative case

    • a vocative noun or speech element

Origin of vocative

1
C15: from Latin phrase vocātīvus cāsus the calling case, from vocāre to call

Derived forms of vocative

  • vocatively, 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