accusative

[ uh-kyoo-zuh-tiv ]
/ əˈkyu zə tɪv /

adjective

Grammar.
  1. (in certain inflected languages, as Latin, Greek, or Russian) noting a case whose distinctive function is to indicate the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.
  2. similar to such a case form in function or meaning.
Linguistics. pertaining to a type of language in which there is an accusative case or in which subjects of transitive verbs behave the same way as subjects of intransitive verbs. Compare ergative(def 2).
accusatory.

noun

an accusative case.
a word in an accusative case.
a form or construction of similar function.

Origin of accusative

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin accūsātīvus, equivalent to ac- ac- + -cūsātīvus, combining form of causātīvus (see causative) a loan-translation of Greek aitiatikḗ, in the sense of pointing to the origin or cause, accusing)

OTHER WORDS FROM accusative

ac·cu·sa·tive·ly, adverb self-ac·cu·sa·tive, adjective

Words nearby accusative

accursed, accus., accusal, accusation, accusatival, accusative, accusatorial, accusatory, accuse, accused, accuser

Example sentences from the Web for accusative

British Dictionary definitions for accusative

accusative
/ (əˈkjuːzətɪv) /

adjective

grammar denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in inflected languages that is used to identify the direct object of a finite verb, of certain prepositions, and for certain other purposes See also objective (def. 5)
another word for accusatorial

noun

grammar
  1. the accusative case
  2. a word or speech element in the accusative case

Derived forms of accusative

accusatival (əˌkjuːzəˈtaɪvəl), adjective accusatively, adverb

Word Origin for accusative

C15: from Latin; in grammar, from the phrase cāsus accūsātīvus accusative case, a mistaken translation of Greek ptōsis aitiatikē the case indicating causation. See accuse