Definition of: partitive

(pär′tə·tiv) adjective
1. Separating into integral parts or into distinct divisions.
2. Gram. Denoting a part as distinct from the whole. Example: Of them is the partitive genitive in the sentences “Many of them were there” and “They couldn't do it for the life of them.”
—noun Gram. A partitive word or case. [<F partitif <L partitivus <partitus, pp. of partire divide]
—par′ti·tive·ly adverb