genitive
[ jen-i-tiv ]
/ ˈdʒɛn ɪ tɪv /
adjective
(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.
noun
the genitive case.
a word in the genitive case.
a construction noting this case or the relationship usually expressed by it.
Compare
possessive.
Origin of genitive
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin
genitīvus, equivalent to
genit(us) (past participle of
gignere to beget) +
-īvus
-ive
OTHER WORDS FROM genitive
gen·i·ti·val [jen-i-tahy-vuh l] /ˌdʒɛn ɪˈtaɪ vəl/, adjective gen·i·ti·val·ly, adverb un·gen·i·tive, adjectiveWords nearby genitive
genital tract,
genital wart,
genitalia,
genitality,
genitals,
genitive,
genito-,
genitocrural,
genitofemoral,
genitofemoral nerve,
genitor
Example sentences from the Web for genitive
British Dictionary definitions for genitive
genitive
/ (ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv) grammar /
adjective
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
noun
- the genitive case
- a word or speech element in this case
Derived forms of genitive
genitival (ˌdʒɛnɪˈtaɪvəl), adjective genitivally, adverbWord Origin for genitive
C14: from Latin
genetīvus relating to birth, from
gignere to produce