"-ative" meaning in English

See -ative in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Suffix

Forms: -tive [alternative]
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English -ative From -ate + -ive. Etymology templates: {{etymon|en|:af|-ate<id:adjective>|-ive|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English -ative [Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from", "terms" : [ { "id" : "adjective", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "forming adjectives", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "adjectival", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "collective nouns", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "collective nouns", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-h₂", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-éh₂", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "id" : "verbal adjectives", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-tós", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-eh₂tos", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "inline", "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*-ātos", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "-ātus", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword" : "lbor" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-ate", "lang" : "en" }, { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "bor.", "keyword_label" : "Borrowed from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "-ive", "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "alt" : "*-iHwós", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "inline", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "adjectival suffix", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-wós", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "-īvus", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Old French", "term" : "-if", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "fro" } ], "keyword" : "bor" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "-yf", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-ive", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-ative", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="-ative"> From -ate + -ive. Head templates: {{head|en|suffix|cat2=|cat3=|cat4=|head=|id=}} -ative, {{en-suffix}} -ative
  1. of, related to, or associated with the thing specified Tags: morpheme Related terms: -ive, -atif
    Sense id: en--ative-en-suffix-20wgQb~i Categories (other): English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -ate (adjective), English terms suffixed with -ive, Pages using catfix, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Pages with etymology trees

Alternative forms

{
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "-ate<id:adjective>",
        "4": "-ive",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *-h₂\nProto-Indo-European *-éh₂\nProto-Indo-European *-tós\nProto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos\nProto-Italic *-ātos\nLatin -ātuslbor.\nEnglish -ate\nProto-Indo-European *-wós\nProto-Indo-European *-iHwósder.\nLatin -īvus\nOld French -ifbor.\nMiddle English -yf\nEnglish -ive\nEnglish -ative\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"forming adjectives\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjectival\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"collective nouns\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"collective nouns\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-h₂\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-éh₂\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"verbal adjectives\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-eh₂tos\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-ātos\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ātus\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ate\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"-ive\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-iHwós\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjectival suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-wós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-īvus\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"-if\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-yf\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ive\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ative\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"-ative\">\nFrom -ate + -ive.",
      "name": "etymon"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *-h₂\nProto-Indo-European *-éh₂\nProto-Indo-European *-tós\nProto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos\nProto-Italic *-ātos\nLatin -ātuslbor.\nEnglish -ate\nProto-Indo-European *-wós\nProto-Indo-European *-iHwósder.\nLatin -īvus\nOld French -ifbor.\nMiddle English -yf\nEnglish -ive\nEnglish -ative\nFrom -ate + -ive.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "-tive",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "suffix",
        "cat2": "",
        "cat3": "",
        "cat4": "",
        "head": "",
        "id": ""
      },
      "expansion": "-ative",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "-ative",
      "name": "en-suffix"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "suffix",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -ate (adjective)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -ive",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using catfix",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "of, related to, or associated with the thing specified"
      ],
      "id": "en--ative-en-suffix-20wgQb~i",
      "links": [
        [
          "of",
          "of"
        ],
        [
          "related",
          "related"
        ],
        [
          "associated",
          "associated"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "-ive"
        },
        {
          "word": "-atif"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "-ative"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "-ate<id:adjective>",
        "4": "-ive",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *-h₂\nProto-Indo-European *-éh₂\nProto-Indo-European *-tós\nProto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos\nProto-Italic *-ātos\nLatin -ātuslbor.\nEnglish -ate\nProto-Indo-European *-wós\nProto-Indo-European *-iHwósder.\nLatin -īvus\nOld French -ifbor.\nMiddle English -yf\nEnglish -ive\nEnglish -ative\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"forming adjectives\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjectival\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"collective nouns\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"collective nouns\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-h₂\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-éh₂\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"verbal adjectives\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-eh₂tos\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-ātos\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ātus\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ate\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"-ive\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-iHwós\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjectival suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-wós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-īvus\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"-if\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-yf\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ive\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ative\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"-ative\">\nFrom -ate + -ive.",
      "name": "etymon"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *-h₂\nProto-Indo-European *-éh₂\nProto-Indo-European *-tós\nProto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos\nProto-Italic *-ātos\nLatin -ātuslbor.\nEnglish -ate\nProto-Indo-European *-wós\nProto-Indo-European *-iHwósder.\nLatin -īvus\nOld French -ifbor.\nMiddle English -yf\nEnglish -ive\nEnglish -ative\nFrom -ate + -ive.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "-tive",
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        "alternative"
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  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
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        "2": "suffix",
        "cat2": "",
        "cat3": "",
        "cat4": "",
        "head": "",
        "id": ""
      },
      "expansion": "-ative",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "-ative",
      "name": "en-suffix"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "suffix",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "-ive"
    },
    {
      "word": "-atif"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English entries with etymology texts",
        "English entries with etymology trees",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English suffixes",
        "English terms suffixed with -ate (adjective)",
        "English terms suffixed with -ive",
        "Pages using catfix",
        "Pages using etymon with no ID",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries",
        "Pages with etymology trees"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "of, related to, or associated with the thing specified"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "of",
          "of"
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        [
          "related",
          "related"
        ],
        [
          "associated",
          "associated"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "-ative"
}

Download raw JSONL data for -ative meaning in English (4.7kB)

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-05-20 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-05-01 using wiktextract (e973cf0 and ae80fde). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.