translative

T1R1A1N1S1L1A1T1I1V4E1
/tɹænzˈleɪtɪv//ˈtɹænzleɪtɪv//ˈtɹænzlətɪv/

adjective

Of, or relating to the movement of a person or thing from one place to another.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

adjectivetranslative (comparative more translative, superlative most translative)

comparative more translative · superlative most translative

  1. Of, or relating to the movement of a person or thing from one place to another.
  2. Of, or relating to the translation of language.

    Which suiting the case so well, you’ll forgive me, Sir, for popping down in English metre, as the translative impulse (pardon a new word, and yet we scholars are not fond of authenticating new words) came upon me uncalled for:

    1751, Samuel Richardson, Letters and Passages Restored from the Original Manuscripts of the History of Clarissa, volume 8, London, page 153

    Synonyms: translational

  3. human sciencesOf, or relating to the translative case.
  4. obsoleteIn the form of a trope; figurative.
    1 more example

    1589, George Puttenham, The Arte of English Poesie, edited by Edward Arber, London: Alexander Murray & Son, 1869, Book 3, Chapter 18, p. 197, But properly and in his principall vertue Allegoria is when we do speake in sence translatiue and wrested from the owne signification, neuerthelesse applied to another not altogether contrary, but hauing much conueniencie with it as before we said of the metaphore: as for example if we should call the common wealth, a shippe; the Prince a Pilot, the Counsellours mariners, the stormes warres, the calme and [hauen] peace, this is spoken in allegorie […]

nountranslative (plural translatives)

plural translatives

  1. grammarThe translative case.
  2. grammarA word in the translative case.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf, or relating to the translation of language.

Origin

  1. Latintranslativus“that is to be transferred”
  2. Englishtranslative

From Latin translativus (“that is to be transferred”). Compare French translatif.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with translative

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

translative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/translative

MLA

“translative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/translative. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “translative,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/translative.

Source: translative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.