PUTATIVE

putative

(adjective) purported; commonly put forth or accepted as true on inconclusive grounds; “the foundling’s putative father”; “the putative author of the book”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

putative (comparative more putative, superlative most putative)

Commonly believed or deemed to be the case; accepted by supposition rather than as a result of proof.

Synonyms: ostensible, purported, reputed, supposed

Source: Wiktionary


Pu"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. putativus, fr. putare, putatum, to reckon, suppose, adjust, prune, cleanse. See Pure, and cf. Amputate, Compute, Dispute, Impute.]

Definition: Commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed; as, the putative father of a child. "His other putative (I dare not say feigned) friends." E. Hall. Thus things indifferent, being esteemed useful or pious, became customary, and then came for reverence into a putative and usurped authority. Jer. Taylor.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

27 June 2025

SQUARE

(adjective) having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; “a square peg in a round hole”; “a square corner”


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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