Definitions for ergative
ergative
er·ga·tive
Spelling: [ur-guh-tiv]
IPA: /ˈɜr gə tɪv/
Ergative is a 8 letter English word.
It's valid Words with friends word worth 14 points.
You can make 244 anagrams from letters in ergative (aeegirtv).
Definitions for ergative
noun
-
the ergative case.
-
a word in the ergative case.
-
a form or construction of similar function or meaning.
adjective
-
Grammar.
(in certain languages, as Basque, Eskimo, and some Caucasian languages) noting a case that indicates the subject of a transitive verb and is distinct from the case indicating the subject of an intransitive verb.
similar to such a case in function or meaning, especially in indicating an agent, as the subject She in She opened the door, in contrast to the subject The door in The door opened.
-
Linguistics. pertaining to a type of language that has an ergative case or in which the direct object of a transitive verb has the same form as the subject of an intransitive verb.
Compare accusative (def 2).
Origin of ergative
1945-50; Greek ergát(ēs) worker (see ergate) + -ive