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Webster 1913 Edition

-ive

-ive

s
uff.
[L.
-ivus
.]
An adjective suffix signifying
relating
or
belonging to
,
of the nature of
,
tending to
;
as, affirmat
ive
, act
ive
, conclus
ive
, correct
ive
, diminut
ive
.

Definition 2024

-ive

-ive

See also: ive, īve, and I've

English

Suffix

-ive

  1. An adjective suffix signifying relating or belonging to, of the nature of, tending to; as affirmative, active, conclusive, corrective, diminutive.

Translations

Derived terms

References

  • -ive in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • Miller, D. Gary (2006) Latin Suffixal Derivatives in English and Their Indo-European Ancestry, Oxford University Press, page 204

Latin

Suffix

-īve

  1. vocative masculine singular of -īvus

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman -if (feminine -ive), from Latin -ivus. Until the fourteenth century all Middle English loanwords from Anglo-Norman ended in -if (compare actif, natif, sensitif, pensif etc.), and under the influence of literary Neolatin both languages introduced the form -ive. Those forms that have not been replaced were subsequently changed to end in -y (compare hasty, from hastif, jolly, from jolif etc.).

Like the Latin suffix -io (genitive -ionis), Latin suffix -ivus is appended to the perfect passive participle to form an adjective of action.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪv/

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