Where does “agentive” come from?

Agentive derives from English agent, from Latin agens, an adjective formed with the Latin suffix -ivus attached to the Proto-Indo-European root h₂eǵ- meaning to drive or act.

agentive (English): Indicating an agent or agency; Pertaining to a...

Definitions

  1. Indicating an agent or agency; Pertaining to a...

Ancestry of “agentive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-iveAn adjective suffix signifying relating or...
2Middle English-yfA suffix designating adjectives, adverbs and...
3Old French-if-ive
4Latin-īvusAdjective suffix
5Proto-Indo-European-iHwós
6Proto-Indo-European-wósCreates adjectives from verb stems

Words derived from “agentive

Every word from Proto-Indo-European -wósEvery word from Latin -īvusEvery word from English -ive
agentive — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer