# ergative

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɜːɡətɪv/

## Definitions
1. With the subject of a transitive construction having grammatical cases or thematic relations different from those of an intransitive construction.

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἐργᾰ́της (ergắtēs, “labourer, worker”) + English -ive (suffix meaning ‘belong or relating to; of the nature of; serving to; tending to’ forming adjectives).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ergative