Where does “-ive” come from?
-ive (English) comes from Middle English -yf, from Old French -if, from Latin -īvus, from Proto-Indo-European -iHwós, from Proto-Indo-European -wós — Creates adjectives from verb stems.
-ive (English): An adjective suffix signifying relating or...
Definitions
- An adjective suffix signifying relating or...
Ancestry of “-ive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | -yf | A suffix designating adjectives, adverbs and... |
| 2 | Old French | -if | -ive |
| 3 | Latin | -īvus | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHwós | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | -wós | Creates adjectives from verb stems |
Words derived from “-ive”