indicating that a noun involved in a construction refers only to a part or fraction of what it otherwise refers to. The phrase some of the butter is a partitive construction; in some inflected languages it would be translated by the genitive case of the noun
2.
serving to separate or divide into parts
noun
3. grammar
a partitive linguistic element or feature
Derived forms
partitively (ˈpartitively)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin partītīvus serving to divide, from Latin partīre to divide
English Easy Learning GrammarTypes of nounNouns can be classified according to what they refer to. Nouns that are really names are called proper nouns. Proper nouns usually refer toa particular ... Read more
partitive in American English
(ˈpɑrtətɪv)
adjective
1.
used in setting off or separating; making a division
2. Grammar
a.
referring to a part of a whole
b.
of or relating to a case expressing reference to a part of a whole