vocative









vocative


adjective

  1. 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.
  2. of, relating to, or used in calling, specifying, or addressing.

noun Grammar.

  1. the vocative case.
  2. a word in the vocative, as Latin Paule “O Paul.”

adjective

  1. relating to, used in, or characterized by calling
  2. grammar denoting a case of nouns, in some inflected languages, used when the referent of the noun is being addressed

noun

  1. grammar
    1. the vocative case
    2. a vocative noun or speech element
adj.

mid-15c., “showing the person or thing spoken to,” from Middle French vocatif (fem. vocative), from Latin vocativus (casus) “(case of) calling,” from vocatus, past participle of vocare “to call” (see voice (n.)). The Latin is a translation of Greek kletike ptosis, from kletikos “related to calling,” from kletos “called.”

55 queries 0.622