ergative
adjective /ˈɜːɡətɪv/
/ˈɜːrɡətɪv/
(grammar)- (of verbs) able to be used in both a transitive and an intransitive way with the same meaning, where the object of the transitive verb is the same as the subject of the intransitive verb
- The verb ‘grow’ is ergative because you can say ‘She grew flowers in her garden’ or ‘Flowers grew in her garden’.
Word Origin1950s: from Greek ergatēs ‘worker’ (from ergon ‘work’) + -ive.