Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Formative
Form′a-tive
,Adj.
[Cf. F.
formatif
.] 1.
Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic;
as, the
. formative
artsThe meanest plant can not be raised without seed, by any
formative
residing in the soil. Bentley.
2.
(Gram.)
Serving to form; derivative; not radical;
as, a termination merely
. formative
3.
(Biol.)
Capable of growth and development; germinal;
as, living or
. formative
matterForm′a-tive
,Noun.
(Gram.)
(a)
That which serves merely to give form, and is no part of the radical, as the prefix or the termination of a word.
(b)
A word formed in accordance with some rule or usage, as from a root.
Webster 1828 Edition
Formative
FORM'ATIVE
, a.1.
Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic.The meanest plant cannot be raised without seeds, by any formative power residing in the soil.
2.
In grammar, serving to form; derivative; not radical; as a termination merely formative.Definition 2024
formative
formative
English
Adjective
formative (comparative more formative, superlative most formative)
- Of or pertaining to the formation and subsequent growth of something.
- My formative years were spent in an inner city.
- Capable of forming something.
- (biology) Capable of producing new tissue.
- (grammar) Pertaining to the inflection of words.
Derived terms
- formativeness
Noun
formative (plural formatives)
- (grammar) A language unit that has morphological function.