a combination of -ate1. and -ive, used to form adjectives from stems in -ate1, (regulative); on this model, because of the frequency and productivity of -ate1 , used independently to form adjectives from stems of other origin:
normative.
Origin
< Latin-ātīvus, equivalent to -āt(us) -ate1 + -īvus-ive
British Dictionary definitions for -ative
-ative
suffix
1.
of, relating to, or tending to: authoritative, decorative, informative
Word Origin
from Latin -ātīvus, from ātus-ate1 + īvus-ive
Word Origin and History for -ative
word-forming element meaning "of or related to; tending to," from Latin -ativus.