Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
ergative
1943, in reference to grammatical case used for the subjects of transitive verbs (in Eskimo, Basque, Caucasian languages), from Greek ergatos "workman," from comb. form of ergos "work" (see organ) + -ive.
Wiktionary
ergative
a. (context grammar English) Used of various situations where the subject of transitive constructions have different grammatical cases or thematic relations to those of intransitive constructions. n. 1 (context linguistics English) The ergative case. 2 (context linguistics English) An ergative verb or other expression.
Wikipedia
Ergative
The term ergative is used in grammar in three different meanings:
- Ergative case
- Ergative–absolutive language
- Ergative verb