"having power to denote," 1610s, from Latin denotat-, past-participle stem of denotare (see denote) + -ive. Related: Denotatively.
Entries linking to denotative
denote v.
1590s, "mark off from others; identify by a mark; be the sign or symptom of," from French dénoter (14c.), from Latin denotare "denote, mark out," from de- "completely" (see de-) + notare "to mark, note, make a note" (see note (v.)). Related: Denoted; denoting.
-ive
word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to; doing, serving to do," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin adjectival suffix -ivus (source also of Italian and Spanish -ivo). In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (as in hasty, tardy).