Etymology
Advertisement

commemorative (adj.)

"serving or intended for commemoration," 1610s, from commemorate + -ive. As a noun meaning "means of commemoration" it is recorded from 1630s; as short for commemorative postage stamp from 1916.

Entries linking to commemorative

commemorate (v.)

1590s, "call to remembrance," from Latin commemoratus, past participle of commemorare "bring to remembrance," from com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + memorare "to remind," from memor "mindful of" (from PIE root *(s)mer- (1) "to remember").

Meaning "perpetuate the memory of" (by solemn act, etc.) is from 1630s. Of things, "to serve as a memento of, to perpetuate the memory of," 1766. Related: Commemorated; commemorates; commemorating.

-ive 
word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to; doing, serving to do," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin adjectival suffix -ivus (source also of Italian and Spanish -ivo). In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (as in hasty, tardy).

Others are reading

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of commemorative
1
commemorative (n.)
an object (such as a coin or postage stamp) made to mark an event or honor a person;
2
commemorative (adj.)
intended as a commemoration;
a commemorative plaque
Synonyms: commemorating
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near commemorative

comme ci, comme ca

comme il faut

commedia dell'arte

commemorate

commemoration

commemorative

commen

commence

commencement

commend

commendable

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper