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Added 9 October 2026

ablative

/ˈæb.lə.tɪv/ noun

In Latin: ablātīvus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ablative at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The case indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument or manner or place of the action described by the verb.

adjective

Relating to the ablative case.
Tending to ablate; i.e. to be removed or vaporized at very high temperature.
ablative material on a rocket cone

Origin

From Middle English ablative, ablatife, ablatyf, ablatif, from Old French ablatif (“the ablative case”), from Latin ablātīvus (“expressing removal”), from ablātus (“taken away”), from auferō (“to take away”). The engineering/nautical sense originates from ablate + -ive.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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