illative

[ il-uh-tiv, ih-ley-tiv ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or expressing illation; inferential:

   an illative word such as “therefore.”

2. Grammar. noting a case, as in Finnish, whose distinctive function is to indicate place into or toward which.

noun

1. Grammar. the illative case.

illative

/ ɪˈleɪtɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to illation; inferential
2. grammar denoting a word or morpheme used to signal inference, for example so or therefore
3. (in the grammar of Finnish and other languages) denoting a case of nouns expressing a relation of motion or direction, usually translated by the English prepositions into or towards Compare elative

noun

1. grammar
   1. the illative case
   2. an illative word or speech element

Derived Forms

• ilˈlatively, adverb

Other Words From

• illa·tive·ly adverb
• non·illa·tive adjective
• non·illa·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of illative¹

1585–95; < Late Latin illātīvus, equivalent to illāt- ( illation ) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of illative¹

C16: from Late Latin illātīvus inferring, concluding

Example Sentences

The repetition of the injunction "be not careful" again with the illative "therefore" is quite in the spirit of E.

From Project Gutenberg