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amative

[am-uh-tiv]
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adjective
  1. disposed to love; amorous.
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Origin of amative

1630–40; < Medieval Latin amātīvus, equivalent to amāt(us) (past participle of amāre to love) + -īvus -ive
Related formsam·a·tive·ly, adverbam·a·tive·ness, nounun·am·a·tive, adjectiveun·am·a·tive·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

amatoryamorousardentbrotherlydotingenamorederoticferventfervidimpassionedindulgentlovingtenderwarmanacreonticoverindulgentsisterly

Examples from the Web for amative

Historical Examples

  • Phrenology confirms this; for her amative developments are singularly prominent.

    City Crimes

    Greenhorn

  • The amative function is regarded merely as a bait to the propagative, and is merged in it.

  • It was a surprise to see these leisurely and luxurious animals spattering the water in such an ecstasy of amative rage.

  • Nor are many persons sufficiently aware of the ruinous extent to which the amative propensity is indulged by married persons.

  • He was amative or constructive, and at the same time he not only possessed but liked to exercise lucidity of thought.

    The French Revolution

    Hilaire Belloc

British Dictionary definitions for amative

amative

adjective
  1. a rare word for amorous
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Derived Formsamatively, adverbamativeness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin amātīvus, from Latin amāre to love
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for amative

adj.

1630s, "pertaining to love," from Latin amat-, past participle stem of amare "to love" (see Amy) + -ive.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper