Main Entry: ¹voc·a·tive

Pronunciation: \ˈvä-kə-tiv\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English vocatif, from Middle French, from Latin vocativus, from vocatus, past participle of vocare

Date: 15th century

1 : of, relating to, or being a grammatical case marking the one addressed (as Latin Domine in miserere, Domine “have mercy, O Lord”)
2 of a word or word group : marking the one addressed (as mother in “mother, come here”)

— voc·a·tive·ly adverb