FORMATIVES

Noun

formatives

plural of formative

Source: Wiktionary

FORMATIVE

Form"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. formatif.]

1. Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic; as, the formative arts. The meanest plant can not be raised without seed, by any formative residing in the soil. Bentley.

2. (Gram.)

Definition: Serving to form; derivative; not radical; as, a termination merely formative.

3. (Biol.)

Definition: Capable of growth and development; germinal; as, living or formative matter.

Form"a*tive, n. (Gram.) (a) That which serves merely to give form, and is no part of the radical, as the prefix or the termination of a word. (b) A word formed in accordance with some rule or usage, as from a root.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition