-ive

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 650 words | Copyright

-ive in ME. -if(e), -yf(e) — (O)F. -if, fem. -ive :- L. -īvus, -īvum, fem. -īva, suffix added mainly to pp. stems, e.g. actīvus, -īva ACTIVE, nātīvus inborn, NATIVE, but also to pres. stems, e.g. cadīvus falling, f. cadere, and to sbs., e.g. tempestīvus seasonable, f. tempestās TEMPEST. Eng. formations on vb.-stems often assume the appearance of being of the pp. type, as adoptive, selective; see also -ATIVE. Some L. adjs. were used sb., as captīvus, fugitīvus; of this usage there is a wide extension in mod. langs. and Eng. (adjective, explosive, missive, sedative).

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

T. F. HOAD. "-ive." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "-ive." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ive.html

T. F. HOAD. "-ive." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ive.html

Learn more about citation styles