Alimentive

/ˈælɪmentɪv/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characterized by the provision of nourishment; serving to nourish or sustain.

Etymology

Formed from 'aliment' with the suffix '-ive,' which creates adjectives describing qualities or functions. This is a variant of 'alimentative' with a slightly different formation.

Kelly Says

The '-ive' suffix appears in 'alimentive,' while '-ative' appears in 'alimentative'—English offers multiple pathways to the same meaning, and this redundancy shows how our language accumulated different terms across centuries of use.

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