ablative(n = noun.communication) ablative case - the case indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument or manner or place of the action described by the verb;
is a kind of oblique, oblique case
1. ablative(a = adj.pert) - relating to the ablative case;
2. ablative(s = adj.all) - tending to ablate; i.e. to be removed or vaporized at very high temperature; "ablative material on a rocket cone"
Derived form verb ablate1
1. Taking away or removing. [1913 Webster]
"Where the heart is forestalled with misopinion, ablative directions are found needful to unteach error, ere we can learn truth." [1913 Webster]
2. Applied to one of the cases of the noun in Latin and some other languages, -- the fundamental meaning of the case being removal, separation, or taking away. [1913 Webster]
The ablative case. [1913 Webster]
ablative, n. & adj. Gram.
--n. the case (esp. in Latin) of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating an agent, instrument, or location.
--adj. of or in the ablative.
Idiom:
ablative absolute an absolute construction in Latin with a noun and participle or adjective in the ablative case (see ABSOLUTE).
Etymology:
ME f. OF ablatif -ive or L ablativus (as ABLATION)