adjective

accusative

uh-KYOO-zuh-tiv

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Accusative (adjective) means suggesting or making an accusation, or reflecting a finding of fault or blame. Example: “His tone turned accusative the moment he mentioned the missing money.”

adjective

Suggesting or making an accusation, or reflecting a finding of fault or blame.

"His tone turned accusative the moment he mentioned the missing money."

"She sent an accusative email listing everyone she thought had let her down."

noun

technical In grammar, the case that marks the direct object of a transitive verb in languages such as Latin, Greek and German.

"In German, a direct object takes the accusative case."

"Latin students often confuse the accusative with the dative case."

How to use accusative

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAccusative can mean blaming in tone, or it can be the grammar term for the case a direct object takes.

When to use it

The grammar sense is a technical term used mainly when discussing languages with case systems.

Memory tip

English pronouns show a trace of the accusative case, as in 'him' and 'her' versus 'he' and 'she'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

ablative → dative →

Common pairings

accusative case accusative tone accusative pronoun in the accusative

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “accusative” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

His tone turned _____ the moment he mentioned the missing money.

Etymology

Accusative was first used in English in the mid fifteenth century. It entered English via Anglo-Norman or Middle French forms of the word (accusatif), both descended from Latin accūsātīvus, meaning having been blamed, from the verb accūsō, to blame. That Latin term was actually a mistranslation of an Ancient Greek grammatical word meaning expressing an effect, which was later reread as if it meant something closer to blaming.

Origin: Anglo-Norman

Synonyms

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accusatory accusatorial

Related words

accusing

Rhymes for accusative

five give dive live olive drive alive dative endive strive derive active

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Frequently asked questions

What does accusative mean?

Outside grammar, it describes speech or writing that sounds like an accusation or assigns blame. In grammar, it names the case marking a verb's direct object.

What is the accusative case used for?

It marks the noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb, as with direct objects in Latin, Greek and German.

Where does the word accusative come from?

It came into English from Anglo-Norman or Middle French forms of Latin accūsātīvus, from accūsō, to blame, though that Latin term was originally a mistranslation of a Greek grammar term.

What is the meaning of accusative?

"accusative" (adjective) means suggesting or making an accusation, or reflecting a finding of fault or blame.

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