dative absolute
Grammar
noun
(In some inflected languages) a dative case of a noun or pronoun with a participle (expressed or implied) in concord, grammatically independent of the main clause, and expressing the time, occasion, or circumstance of a fact stated.
Origin
Mid 18th century; earliest use found in Thomas Nugent (c1700–1772), writer and traveller. Originally after French datif absolu, itself probably after post-classical Latin dativus absolutus.