ablative

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the case indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument or manner or place of the action described by the verb
  2. adjective relating to the ablative case
  3. adjective tending to ablate; i.e. to be removed or vaporized at very high temperature

Etymology

From Middle English ablative, ablatife, ablatyf, ablatif, from Old French ablatif (“the ablative case”), from Latin ablātīvus (“expressing removal”), from ablātus (“taken away”), from auferō (“to take away”). The engineering/nautical sense originates from ablate + -ive.

In classic literature

Synonyms

ablative case

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