putative

[ pyoo-tuh-tiv ]
/ ˈpyu tə tɪv /

adjective

commonly regarded as such; reputed; supposed: the putative boss of the mob.

Origin of putative

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin putātīvus reputed, equivalent to putāt(us) (past participle of putāre to think, consider, reckon, orig. to clean, prune) + -īvus -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM putative

pu·ta·tive·ly, adverb un·pu·ta·tive, adjective un·pu·ta·tive·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for putative

British Dictionary definitions for putative

putative
/ (ˈpjuːtətɪv) /

adjective

(prenominal) commonly regarded as being the putative father
(prenominal) considered to exist or have existed; inferred
grammar denoting a mood of the verb in some languages used when the speaker does not have direct evidence of what he is asserting, but has inferred it on the basis of something else

Derived forms of putative

putatively, adverb

Word Origin for putative

C15: from Late Latin putātīvus supposed, from Latin putāre to consider