ablative absolute definition
noun. 1  an absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier; for example, hostibus victis, the enemy having been beaten. 1 an absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier; for example, hostibus victis, the enemy having been beaten. ab·la·tive absolute. n. In Latin grammar, an adverbial phrase syntactically independent from the rest of the sentence and containing a noun or pronoun plus an adjunct, usually a participle or adjective, with both elements in the ablative case. 1. (Grammar) an absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier; for example, hostibus victis, the enemy having been beaten. n. The ablatives are only loosely connected grammatically to the remainder of the sentence, hence its name absolute (absolūtus = free or unconnected). An Ablative Absolute with a perfect passive participle is widely used in classical Latin to express the cause or time of an action: Hīs verbīs dictīs, Caesar discēdit. With these word having been said, Caesar departs. Acceptīs litterīs, Caesar discēdit. With the letter having been received, Caesar departs. Definitions. 1  an absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier; for example, hostibus victis, the enemy having been beaten. Ablative absolutes usually consist of a noun and an adjective. The adjective is often a participle (present like running, or past like done). The noun is usually not mentioned at all in the sentence's main clause. This structure is best learned by examples. ablative absolute. 1  an absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier; for example, hostibus victis, the enemy having been beaten. Ablative absolutes are Latin phrases based on a word in the ablative case and in a way detached or set off or loosened from the rest of the sentence. (This means that they do not grammatically interrelate very closely with the other words of the sentence. Noun. 1. ablative absolute-a constituent in Latin grammar; a noun and its modifier can function as a sentence modifier. grammatical constituent, constituent - (grammar) a word or phrase or clause forming part of a larger grammatical construction.
An absolute construction in Latin grammar in which a governor noun and a modifier in the ablative case function as a sentence modifier.