Definitions of ergative [ˈɜr gə tɪv]

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Definition of 'ergative'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (adj.) ergative
of or designating a verb in which the subject of the intransitive construction is also the object of the transitive construction:
The boat capsized. They capsized the boat.

2.  ergative
of or designating a grammatical case, as in Basque or Georgian, that indicates the subject of a transitive verb and is distinct from the case indicating the subject of an intransitive verb.

3.  ergative
similar to such a case in function or meaning, esp. in indicating an agent as subject.

4.  ergative
of or pertaining to a language that has an ergative case or in which the direct object of a transitive verb and the subject of an intransitive verb are paired grammatically by other means.

5. (n.) ergative
an ergative verb.

6.  ergative
the ergative case.

7.  ergative
a word in the ergative case.

Etymology: (1945–50; < Gk ergát(ēs) worker)

'ergative' - Nearby Entries
erceldoune erenow erfurt ergative ergo- ergograph eric the red

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