agentive

[ ey-juhn-tiv ]

adjective

, Grammar.

1. pertaining to, or productive of, a form that indicates an agent or agency.
2. (in case grammar) pertaining to the semantic role or case of a noun phrase that indicates the volitional or primary causer of the action expressed by a verb.

noun

1. an agentive word or suffix.
2. the agentive case.

agentive

/ ˈeɪdʒəntɪv; eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. (in some inflected languages) denoting a case of nouns, etc, indicating the agent described by the verb
2. (of a speech element) indicating agency

   ``-er'' in ``worker'' is an agentive suffix

noun

1. 1. the agentive case
   2. a word or element in the agentive case

Word History and Origins

Origin of agentive¹

agent + -ive

Example Sentences

The reports were identical except in the last sentence where one used the agentive phrase "ripped the costume" while the other said "the costume ripped."

From Wall Street Journal

It transforms the verb to farm into an agentive noun precisely as it transforms the verbs to sing, to paint, to teach into the corresponding agentive nouns singer, painter, teacher.

From Project Gutenberg

The word farmer has an “agentive” suffix -er that performs the function of indicating the one that carries out a given activity, in this case that of farming.

From Project Gutenberg