—n. the case (esp. in Latin) of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating an agent, instrument, or location.
—adj. of or in the ablative.
Phrases and idioms:
ablative absolute an absolute construction in Latin with a noun and participle or adjective in the ablative case (see ABSOLUTE).
Etymology: ME f. OF ablatif -ive or L ablativus (as ABLATION)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.