English
generative
Generative comes from Latin genero ‘to generate, to produce’, from genus ‘species, taxon, race’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- ‘to produce’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵenh₁-‘to produce’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵénh₁os‘race, lineage’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*genosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgenus‘species, taxon, race’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgenero‘to generate, to produce’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500generatyve
- Englishearliest quotation 1692generative
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵenh₁-‘to produce’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵénh₁os‘race, lineage’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*genosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEgenus‘species, taxon, race’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEgenero‘to generate, to produce’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500generatyve
- Englishearliest quotation 1692generative
Earliest quotation: 1692, Richard Bentley, London: [Thomas Parkhurst; Henry Mortlock]: “That generative particle.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- ‘to produce’
kind, king, nature, german, pregnant, nation, engine, native, ken, genius, indigenous, genuine, gentle, genetic, kin, noel, naive, genesis, innate, natal, nada, genital, ingenious, nee, nascent, naïve, janata, germ, puny, nativity, gentile, degenerate, jaunty, gens, cognate, genial, genteel, gingerly, degeneration, azadi, 100 more
through Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁os ‘race, lineage’
oxygen, hydrogen, genocide, genealogy, glycogen, estrogenic, 27 more
through Latin genus ‘species, taxon, race’
genre, genuinely, transgender, genus, generosity, engender, 13 more
through Latin genero ‘to generate, to produce’
Today it means
adj Having the power of generating, propagating, originating, or producing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- / generative