When the preceding syllable has a stress ( as in “purgative” ) əd.iv or ətiv or, sometimes in some words (as “rotative”) answering to paroxytone disyllabic verbs in “-ate”, ˌād.iv or ˌātiv or -ēv also -əv; when the preceding syllable is noninitial and unstressed ( as in “legislative” or “nominative” ) ˌā- or _ə-; in some words (as “elative”) answering to oxytone verbs in “-ate”, ˈā- adjective suffix
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French -atif, from Latin -ativus, from -atus -ate + -ivus -ive
: of, relating to, or connected with
authorit ative
consult ative
norm ative
quantit ative
: tending to
fix ative
form ative
lax ative
talk ative