I. ˈpär]d.əd.iv, ˈpȧ], ]tətiv\ adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin partitivus serving to indicate that of which a part is specified, from Latin partitus (past participle of partire, partiri to divide) + -ivus -ive
1. : serving to part or divide into parts : indicating or characterized by partition
partitive tendencies in education
the tragedy of our present partitive social adaptation — W.E.Galt
2.
a.
(1) : of, relating to, or denoting a part
a partitive construction
(2) : serving to indicate that of which a part is specified
partitive genitive
b. : of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical case (as in Finnish) that denotes part of something
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a word expressing partition or denoting a part
2.
a. : the partitive case in a language
b. : a word in the partitive case