n.
Pronunciation: ' vä-k ə -tiv
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English vocatif, from Middle French, from Latin vocativus, from vocatus, past participle of vocare
Date: 15th century
1 : of, relating to, or being a grammatical case marking the one addressed (as Latin Domine in miserere, Domine “ have mercy, O Lord ” )
2 of a word or word group : marking the one addressed (as mother in “ mother, come here ” )
– voc · a · tive · ly adverb