Compulsative

/kəmˈpʌlsətɪv/ adjective

Definition

Having the quality of compelling or forcing; characterized by compulsion (rare variant of 'compulsive').

Etymology

From 'compulse' (to compel) plus the suffix '-ative' (tending to, characterized by). This represents an older or variant form of the more common 'compulsive.'

Kelly Says

The '-ative' suffix was more productive in Middle English than today—we still see it in words like 'talkative,' but most new psychological descriptions now use '-ive,' making 'compulsative' sound charmingly old-fashioned.

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