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formative

for·ma·tive

UK/ˈfɔːmətɪv/ US/ˈfoɹmətɪv/ rare
noun (1) adjective (5)

noun

1.

adjective

1.

relating to or characterized by formative effects or formation

  • “the formative arts”
2.

susceptible to alteration by development and experience

  • “formative years”
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3.

beginning to develop

  • “inchoative stages”
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4.

capable of forming new cells and tissues

  • “a formative zone in developing bone”
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5.

forming or capable of forming or molding

  • “a formative influence”
  • “a formative experience”
Synonyms
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Origin

From Middle English formatyve, formatif (“having the ability to form”), from Old French formatif, formative (modern French formatif), from Medieval Latin formātīvus, from Latin fōrmātus + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘doing’ or ‘related to doing’). Fōrmātus is the perfect passive participle of fōrmō (“to form, to shape”), from fōrma (“a form, shape”); further etymology uncertain, possibly related to Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “a form, shape”) (see further at that entry). By surface analysis, form + -ative.

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Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.