vocative

1 of 2

adjective

voc·​a·​tive ˈvä-kə-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or being a grammatical case (see case entry 1 sense 3a) marking the one addressed (such as Latin Domine in miserere, Domine "have mercy, O Lord")

2

of a word or word group : marking the one addressed (such as mother in "mother, come here")

vocatively adverb

vocative

2 of 2

noun

1

: the vocative case of a language

2

: a form in the vocative case

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English vocatif, from Middle French, from Latin vocativus, from vocatus, past participle of vocare

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1