[ 'ablətɪv ]
■ adjective
1》 Grammar denoting a case indicating an agent, instrument, or source, expressed by ‘by’, ‘with’, or ‘from’ in English.
2》 involving ablation.
■ noun Grammar a word in the ~ case.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~ (fem. of ablatif ), L. ablativus , from ablat- , auferre (see ablation ).