vocative

[ vok-uh-tiv ]
/ ˈvɒk ə tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR vocative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

noun Grammar.

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

Origin of vocative

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

Words nearby vocative

vocational, vocational education, vocational guidance, vocational school, vocationalism, vocative, voces, vociferance, vociferant, vociferate, vociferation

Words related to vocative

loquacious, facile, eloquent, artful, articulate, talkative, easy, flip, fluent, garrulous, insincere, plausible, quick, ready, silver-tongued, slick, slippery, suave, urbane, vocal

Example sentences from the Web for vocative

British Dictionary definitions for vocative

vocative
/ (ˈvɒkətɪv) /

adjective

relating to, used in, or characterized by calling
grammar denoting a case of nouns, in some inflected languages, used when the referent of the noun is being addressed

noun

grammar
  1. the vocative case
  2. a vocative noun or speech element

Derived forms of vocative

vocatively, adverb

Word Origin for vocative

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