ablative

 
Pronunciation: /ˈablətɪv/

adjective

  • 1 Grammar denoting a case (especially in Latin) of nouns and pronouns and words in grammatical agreement with them indicating an agent, instrument, or source, expressed by ‘by’, ‘with’, or ‘from’ in English.
  • 2(of surgical treatment) involving ablation: all nine patients were treated by ablative surgery
  • 3relating to or subject to ablation through melting or evaporation: the spacecraft’s ablative heat shield

noun

Grammar
  • a word in the ablative case.
  • (the ablative) the ablative case.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French ablative (feminine of ablatif), Latin ablativus, from ablat- 'taken away' (see ablation)