— adoptively , adv.
/euh dop"tiv/ , adj.
1. of or involving adoption.
2. acquired or related by adoption: an adoptive father or son.
3. tending to adopt.
[ 1400-50; adoptivus; see ADOPT, -IVE; r. late ME adoptife adoptif ]
Usage . Although ADOPTIVE in the sense "acquired or related by adoption" can refer to either parent or child in such a relationship, ADOPTIVE is customarily applied to the parent ( her adoptive mother ) and adopted to the child ( their adopted son ).