-ive Definition
An adjective suffix signifying relating or belonging to, of the nature of, tending to; as affirmative, active, conclusive, corrective, diminutive.
Origin of -ive
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From Anglo-Norman -if (feminine -ive), from Latin -ivus. Until the fourteenth century all Middle English loanwords from Anglo-Norman ended in -if (compare actif, natif, sensitif, pensif etc.), and under the influence of literary Neolatin both languages introduced the form -ive. Those forms that have not been replaced were subsequently changed to end in -y (compare hasty, from hastif, jolly, from jolif etc.).
From Wiktionary
Like the Latin suffix -io (genitive -ionis), Latin suffix -ivus is appended to the perfect passive participle to form an adjective of action.
From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French from Latin -īvus adj. suff
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
ME < OFr -if, fem. -ive < L -ivus
From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition
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