< Latin-īvus; in some words, representing French-ive, feminine of -if
British Dictionary definitions for -ive
-ive
suffix
1.
(forming adjectives) indicating a tendency, inclination, character, or quality: divisive, prohibitive, festive, massive
2.
(forming nouns of adjectival origin): detective, expletive
Word Origin
from Latin -īvus
Word Origin and History for -ive
sufix forming adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin -ivus. In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (e.g. hasty, tardy).