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accusative

[ uh-kyoo-zuh-tiv ]

adjective

  1. 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.
  2. 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 ).


noun

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

accusative

/ əˌkjuːzəˈtaɪvəl; əˈkjuːzətɪv /

adjective

  1. 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
  2. another word for accusatorial
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. grammar
    1. the accusative case
    2. a word or speech element in the accusative case
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • acˈcusatively, adverb
  • accusatival, adjective
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Other Words From

  • ac·cu·sa·tive·ly adverb
  • self-ac·cu·sa·tive adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of accusative1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, or directly from Latin accūsātīvus, equivalent to ac-, a variant of the prefix ad- + -cūsātīvus, combining form of causātīvus “pertaining to a lawsuit; accusative (case) (as if a defendant in a lawsuit)”; loan translation of Greek aitiatikḗ, in the sense “pointing to the origin or cause, accusing;” in Stoic grammatical theory “that which is caused by the verb”; ad-, causative
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Word History and Origins

Origin of accusative1

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
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Example Sentences

I expected to find you among your pillows,' said I, accusative.

Moreover, fet of the plural applies only to the nominative and accusative; the genitive has fota, the dative fotum.

The construction with on is rare, the verb in this sense regularly takes an accusative.

This seems justly observed, for we say, He came himself; Himself shall do this; where himself cannot be an accusative.

Every accusative resembles either the nominative or the dative; if the latter, it ends in -e.

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accusativalaccusatorial