1 ethical dative | Definition of ethical dative
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ethical dative

noun

Definition of ethical dative

: a colloquial use of the dative of a pronoun for a person to whom it imputes a vague concern with the matter in question (such as German mir, literally “for me,” in bleibe mir nur gesund, “I just hope you stay well”)

First Known Use of ethical dative

1849, in the meaning defined above

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