Definition of ERGATIVE

ergative

Meanings

Plural: ergatives

Adj

  • With the subject of a transitive construction having grammatical cases or thematic relations different from those of an intransitive construction.

Noun

  • Ellipsis of ergative case (“a grammatical case used to indicate the agent of a transitive verb in ergative-absolutive languages”).
  • An ergative verb or other expression.

Origin / Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐργᾰ́της (ergắtēs, “labourer, worker”) + English -ive (suffix meaning ‘belong or relating to; of the nature of; serving to; tending to’ forming adjectives).

Synonyms

elliptical

Antonyms

unergative

Scrabble Score: 12

ergative is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
ergative is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ergative is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

ergative is a valid Words With Friends word