dative etymology

Etymology

The word "dative" originates from the Latin word "dativus," which means "giving" or "belonging to the giving."

Meaning and Origin

In linguistics, the dative case is a grammatical case that typically indicates the indirect object of a verb or preposition. It is used to express various relationships, including:

  • Recipient: The person or thing to whom something is given or transferred (e.g., "I gave the book to him.")
  • Beneficiary: The person or thing that benefits from an action (e.g., "He did it for me.")
  • Possessor: The person or thing that possesses or belongs to something (e.g., "This is yours.")
  • Indirect object: The person or thing that is indirectly affected by a verb (e.g., "He sent a letter to his friend.")

The dative case has its origins in Proto-Indo-European, the ancestral language of most European and some Asian languages. In Proto-Indo-European, the dative was one of six or seven grammatical cases.

Examples in English

Although English does not have a distinct dative case form, the dative relationship is often expressed using prepositions such as "to" and "for."

  • Recipient: I gave the book to him.
  • Beneficiary: He did it for me.
  • Possessor: This is yours.
  • Indirect object: He sent a letter to his friend.

In some other languages, such as German, Russian, and Latin, the dative case is marked by a specific case ending. For example:

  • German: Ich gebe das Buch ihm (I give the book to him)
  • Russian: Я дарю книгу ему (I give the book to him)
  • Latin: Do librum ei (I give the book to him)

dative relate terms

  • anecdote

    Etymology French anecdote unpublished or private story Late Latin anekdotos unpubli

  • antidote

    Etymology Anti against dote given Meaning A substance that counteracts or neut

  • betray

    Etymology The word betray comes from the Old French word betreier which in turn come

  • condone

    Etymology The word condone comes from the Latin phrase con donare which means to g

  • dacha

    Etymology and Origin Dacha is a Russian word that refers to a small cottage or country h

  • dado

    Origin Latin datum meaning thing given Meaning A piece of information espe

  • data

    Data Etymology From the Latin word datum meaning given Meaning A piece of i

  • date

    Etymology The word date has its origins in the Late Latin word data which means gi

  • dative

    Etymology The word dative originates from the Latin word dativus which means giving

  • deodand

    Etymology The word deodand is derived from two Latin words Deo dative of Deus to

  • donation

    Etymology The word donation comes from the Latin word donare meaning to give Mea

  • donative

    Etymology Derived from Latin donativum gift from donare to give ultimately fr

  • donor

    Etymology The word donor originates from the Latin word donarium which means gift

  • Dorian

    Etymology Greek Δωριεύς Dōrieus meaning Dorian Late Latin Mauricius Mau

  • Dorothy

    Etymology The name Dorothy is derived from the Greek name Δωροθεα Dorothea whi

  • dose

    Etymology The word dose comes from the Middle English word dose which came from Old

  • dowager

    Etymology The word dowager derives from the Anglo Norman French word douwerie which

  • dower

    Etymology Dower originates from the Old French word douaire which in turn is derive

  • dowry

    Etymology Middle English dowarie dowaire Old French douaire Late Latin Vulgar Latin

  • edition

    Etymology French édition Latin editio from edere to give out publish Meaning

  • endow

    Etymology Middle English endowen endowe from Anglo Norman French endower endouer e

  • Eudora

    Etymology Greek ευ eu meaning good or well Greek δωρον doron meani

  • fedora

    Etymology The word fedora is derived from the play Fédora written by Victorien Sardou

  • Isidore

    Etymology and Origin Latin Isidorus Greek Isídoros Ἰσίδωρος Meaning

  • mandate

    Etymology Middle English mandat Old French mandat Latin mandātum command order

  • Pandora

    Etymology The name Pandora is derived from two Greek words pan παν meaning

  • pardon

    Etymology The word pardon comes from the Old French word pardonner which itself come

  • perdition

    Etymology Late Latin perditio destruction ruin from the verb perdere to destroy

  • Polydorus

    Etymology Greek name Πολύδωρος Polydoros meaning having many gifts Mean

  • render

    Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

  • rent

    Etymology The word rent originates from the Middle English word rente which in turn

  • sacerdotal

    Etymology Latin sacerdotalis Proto Indo European sék ro holy consecrated Me

  • samizdat

    Etymology Samizdat is a Russian word coined from the prefix sam self and izdat p

  • surrender

    Etymology Old French surrendre Latin surrenderē from sub under reddere to

  • Theodore

    Etymology Greek Θεόδωρος Theodoros Meaning Gift of God Origin Th

  • Theodosia

    Etymology Greek Θεοδοσία Theodosia Meaning God given or gift of God

  • tradition

    Etymology Latin traditio traditionis a handing over delivery transmission surren

  • traitor

    Etymology Middle English traytour from Anglo Norman French traitur from Late Latin tr

  • treason

    Etymology Middle English tresoun Old French treson traïson Latin traditio delive

  • vend

    Etymology Latin vendēre to sell Meaning To offer or deliver goods or services i

  • morn

    Etymology The word morn derives from the Old English word morgen which has its origi

  • amid

    Etymology The word amid has its roots in three distinct languages Old English on m

  • frugal

    Etymology Frugal comes from the Latin word frugi which means useful productive

  • themselves

    Etymology The word themselves is derived from the Old English word hemself or hemsel

  • methinks

    Etymology Methinks is a contraction of the Old English phrase me thinketh which mea

  • nonce

    Etymology Middle English from Old French nonce from Latin nunc meaning now Meani

  • oblique

    Etymology Origin Latin obliquus slanting transverse Root Proto Indo European lab

  • case

    Etymology The word case derives from the Old French word cas which in turn comes fro

  • dystopia

    Etymology Dys Greek bad or difficult Topos Greek place Meaning A dy