Definition of: dative

(dā′tiv) noun Gram.
1. In inflected Indo-European languages, that case of a noun, pronoun, or adjective denoting the remoter, or indirect object: expressed in English by to or for with the objective or by word order, as in I told the story to him, I told him the story.
2. A word in this case.
—adjective
1. Gram. Pertaining to or designating the dative case or a word in this case.
2. Law That may be disposed of at will; also, that may be removed; removable as opposed to perpetual: a dative officer. [<L dativus, trans. of Gk. (ptōsis) do-tikē (the case of) giving <didonai give]
—da′tive·ly adverb