VOCATIVE

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English vocatif, from Middle French, from Latin vocativus, from vocatus, past participle of vocare Date: 15th century of, relating to, or being a grammatical case marking the one addressed (as Latin Domine in miserere, Domine “have mercy, O Lord”), marking the one addressed (as mother in “mother, come here”), ~ly adverb II. noun Date: 15th century the ~ case of a language, a form in the ~ case