absolutive (adj./n.)

(abs, ABS) A term used in the GRAMMATICAL DESCRIPTION of some languages, such as Inuktitut and Georgian, where there is an ERGATIVE system. In this system, there is a FORMAL parallel between the OBJECT of a TRANSITIVE VERB and the SUBJECT of an intransitive one (i.e. they display the same CASE), and these are referred to as ‘absolutive’: the subject of the transitive verb is then referred to as ‘ergative’.