Tending to float or capable of floating; having qualities that allow something to stay on the surface of water.
From float (Old English flotian, of Germanic origin) + -ative (Latin suffix meaning 'tending to'). The suffix -ative was added to create an adjective describing the tendency or capability to float.
This word is extremely rare in modern English, but it perfectly demonstrates how English speakers can build new words by combining familiar parts—the -ative suffix does the same work in words like 'talkative' and 'creative,' turning verbs into adjectives about tendency or nature.
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