vocative
Meanings
Plural: vocatives
Noun
- the case (in some inflected languages) used when the referent of the noun is being addressed
- The vocative case
- A word in the vocative case
- A vocative expression
- Something said to (or as though to) a particular person or thing; an entreaty, an invocation.
Adjective
- relating to a case used in some languages
- "vocative verb endings"
Adj
- Of or pertaining to calling; used in calling or vocation.
- Used in address; appellative; said of the case or form of the noun, pronoun, or adjective by which a person or thing is addressed. In English, it is indicated by an addressee–address separation comma, or by the particle O before the addressee. As examples: "sir" in "What is the matter, sir?", "Mother" in "Mother, listen!", and "O Lord". Compare et tu, Brute.
Origin / Etymology
From Late Middle English [Term?], borrowed from Middle French vocatif, from Latin vocātīvus (“for calling”); a calque of Ancient Greek κλητῐκή (klētĭkḗ, “for calling; vocative case”) – from vocāre (“to call”), from Proto-Indo-European *wokʷ-, o-grade of *wekʷ- (“give vocal utterance, speak”). See Latin vōx.
Synonyms
vocative case
Scrabble Score: 16
vocative is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordvocative is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
vocative is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 19
vocative is a valid Words With Friends word