| 释义 |
gen·i·tive
I. \ˈjenəd.iv, -ətiv\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin genetivus, genitivus, literally, of birth, of generation (translation of Greek genikos in genikē ptōsis genitive case), irregular from gener-, genus birth, race, class, kind + -ivus -ive — more at kin
1. of a grammatical case : marking typically a relatively close, unchanging, and exclusive relationship such as that of possessor or source
< the words ending in 's in the phrases the boy's shoes, the sun's light, the speaker's arrival, and a member's expulsion from the club are in the genitive case >
— compare possessive
2. of a word or word group : not characterized by case inflection but nevertheless expressing a relationship that in some inflected languages is often marked by a genitive case — used especially of English prepositional phrases introduced by of
< the phrases of the sun in “the light of the sun” and of the speaker in “the arrival of the speaker” are genitive phrases >
3. : of or relating to the genitive case
< a genitive ending >
II. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Latin genitivus, genetivus (translation of Greek genikē), from genitivus, genetivus, adjective
1. : a genitive case
2. : a genitive word or word group |