genitive

gen·i·tive

adj \ˈje-nə-tiv\

Definition of GENITIVE

1

: of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical case marking typically a relationship of possessor or source — compare possessive

2

: expressing a relationship that in some inflected languages is often marked by a genitive case —used especially of English prepositional phrases introduced by of

— genitive noun

Origin of GENITIVE

Middle English, from Latin genetivus, genitivus, literally, of generation (erroneous translation of Greek genikos genitive), from genitus

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with GENITIVE

lenitive