Describing something that serves to complete or enhance something else by providing what is missing or lacking.
From complement (Latin complementum, 'something that fills up') + -ative suffix (Latin -ativus, forming adjectives). The -ative suffix indicates a quality or tendency of performing an action.
In grammar, complementative structures are how languages build meaning—a single verb like 'put' needs a complementative phrase like 'on the table' to make complete sense, which is why some languages are nearly impossible to understand without their complements!
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