JISUPOSTEnglish
ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Elative

/ɪˈleɪtɪv/ · noun

Meaning

In Semitic languages, the “adjective degree of superiority”. In some languages such as Arabic, the concepts of comparative and superlative degree of an adjective are merged into a single form, the elative. How this form is understood or translated depends upon context and definiteness. In the absence of comparison, the elative conveys the notion of “greatest”, “supreme.”.

Definitions by Sense

  1. In Semitic languages, the “adjective degree of superiority”. In some languages such as Arabic, the concepts of comparative and superlative degree of an adjective are merged into a single form, the elative. How this form is understood or translated depends upon context and definiteness. In the absence of comparison, the elative conveys the notion of “greatest”, “supreme.”
  2. (rare) Exalted; feeling elation.
  3. (grammar) In Finno-Ugric languages, one of the locative cases, expressing “out of,” or “from” as in Finnish talosta, Hungarian házból (“out of the house”). Its opposite is the illative case (“into”). In Finnish, the case form is used also to express "out of" or "proximity" in a figurative sense which in English is often conveyed by the word "about".

Example Sentences

The elative of كَبِير (kabīr, “big”) is أَكْبَر (ʔakbar, “bigger/biggest, greater/greatest”).
And so the fleas, and flies in their degree, / By their attracted moyst humiditie, / Drawne from a certaine vertue elatiue, / Whence raine his generation doth deriue: / Seeke more than their accustom'd nutriment.
Thither shall gratitude's feelings elative wend, / Bath'd in the dew of the soul's lofty swelling.
The first case is that of E. M., 37 years of age, laborer, who on admission was elative, over-talkative, had a well marked feeling of well being.
whereas if one thinks instead that it is inflicted by others, then the elative feeling is one of masochism, which is quite rightly deemed a disease.

Synonyms for elative

Antonyms for elative

Related Words

relative superlativedegreesuperlativecomparative superlativesuperlative degreegradeabsolute superlativesuperlativenesssuper-superlativesupersuperlativenesssupersuperlativessupereminencysuper-superlativenessmaximativeexuperancyélitesublimesupereminencetranscendentexcl.

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Add this word and synonyms to Word SearchSynonyms and antonymsBetter words by context

Frequently Asked Questions

What does elative mean?

Elative means In Semitic languages, the “adjective degree of superiority”. In some languages such as Arabic, the concepts of comparative and superlative degree of an adjective are merged into a single form, the elative. How this form is understood or translated depends upon context and definiteness. In the absence of comparison, the elative conveys the notion of “greatest”, “supreme.”.

What is a synonym for elative?

The closest synonym depends on the sentence and intended sense.

What is the opposite of elative?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use elative in a sentence?

The elative of كَبِير (kabīr, “big”) is أَكْبَر (ʔakbar, “bigger/biggest, greater/greatest”).

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.