DictionaryRoot: -ivus
Latin
-ivus
having a quality or tendency
Forms
- -ivus
- -ive — The Latin ending was shortened through French and English.
Origin
A Latin descriptive ending built on an older -vo- ending.
Note
It often describes what something tends to do, rather than something it has already done.
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adjective
receptive
rih-SEP-tiv/rɪˈseptɪv/
Ready to receive or accept something offered.
Etymology
Originally describing the capacity to receive or act as a receptacle, receptive applies that taking-in image to ideas. The underlying Latin verb means “take in,” though the precise contribution of “back” is obscure.
Related word entries
- abortiveUnsuccessful
- abortivePregnancy termination
- abusive
- active
- additive
- adjective
- administrative
- adoptive
- apprehensive
- attractive
- authoritative
- captive
- cognitive
- collective
- communicative
- consecutive
- constrictive
- constructive
- copulative
- curative
- cursive
- deceptive
- decisive
- deductiveSubtraction or removal
- deductiveReasoning from general principles
- defective
- defensive
- definitive
- demonstrative
- descriptive
- destructive
- digestive
- diminutive
- directive
- distinctive
- effectiveProducing the intended result
- effectiveActual in practice
- effectively
- elective
- exclusive
- executive
- expletive
- extensive
- festive
- figurativeNonliteral expression
- figurativeRecognizable representation
- furtive
- imaginative
- impulsive
- incentive
- incisive
- inclusive
- indicative
- inductive
- infinitive
- inquisitive
- intensive
- interpretative
- interrogative
- intransitive
- intuitive
- invasive
- invective
- laxative
- lucrative
- missive
- motif
- motiveCausing movement or action
- motiveReason for acting
- narrative
- native
- nominative
- nutritive
- offensive
- operativeSecret agent
- operativeIn effect
- oppressive
- palliative
- passive
- permissive
- perspective
- persuasive
- positiveBenefit or approval
- positiveElectric charge
- positiveDefinite assertion
- positiveDetected presence
- positiveAbove zero
- positivePhotographic image
- possessiveControlling attachment
- possessiveGrammatical ownership
- predictive
- prescriptive
- presumptive
- primitive
- productive
- prohibitive
- prospective
- provocative
- punitive
- purgative
- putative
- qualitative
- quantitative
- receptive
- reductive
- relativeGrammatical reference
- relativeFamily member
- relativeComparison
- relatively
- repressive
- repulsive
- respective
- responsive
- restrictive
- retentive
- sedative
- sensitive
- subjective
- subjunctive
- substantiveReal importance
- substantiveNoun-like expression
- successive
- superlative
- tentative
- transitive
- vegetativePlant growth
- vegetativeLife without conscious activity
- votive