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vocative
[ vok-uh-tiv ]
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
- the vocative case.
- a word in the vocative, as Latin Paule “O Paul.”
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
- the vocative case
- a vocative noun or speech element
Derived Forms
- ˈvocatively, adverb
Other Words From
- voca·tive·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of vocative1
Example Sentences
I get pedantic about the placement of the vocative comma in “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”
And I like Mitch most when he returns fire, peppering Matt, who is young and pretty, with a barrage of snarky vocatives.
His first vocative expressed all, but he was a politician and used to elaborating his mental processes for the benefit of befuddled intellects.
Lord Vanity, not feeling himself included in the last vocative, took a pinch of Rappee and gazed very fiercely at my Lady Bunbutter through the rheum and water of his ancient eyes.
Now, Ma!" broke in Sophia, accompanying this vocative with a tart gesture of remonstrance, "Claire doesn't know a bit better than you or I do whether he was high-toned or not.
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