: of, relating to, or being a grammatical case (see case entry 1 sense 3a) that typically marks the indirect object of a verb, the object of some prepositions, or a person or thing that possesses someone or something else
: a dative case or form
Dictionary Entries Near dative
Cite this Entry
“Dative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dative. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
dative
adjective
da·tive
ˈdā-tiv 
1
in the civil law of Louisiana
2
: appointed by a judge
3
: established by judicial appointment
dative tutorship
Etymology
Adjective
Medieval Latin dativus subject to appointment, from Latin, assigned (of a guardian), from datus, past participle of dare to give
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