dative(n = noun.communication) dative case - the category of nouns serving as the indirect object of a verb;
is a kind of oblique, oblique case
dative, n. & adj. Gram.
--n. the case of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating an indirect object or recipient.
--adj. of or in the dative.
Derivative:
datival adj. dativally adv.
Etymology:
ME f. L (casus) dativus f. dare dat- give