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Dictionary Language resources

augmentative

Pronunciation: /ɔːgˈmɛntətɪv/

Definition of augmentative

adjective

Linguistics

(of an affix or derived word) reinforcing the idea of the original word, especially by meaning ‘a large one of its kind’, as with the Italian suffix -one in borrone ‘ravine’, compared with borro ‘ditch’.

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'having a tendency to increase'): from Old French augmentatif, -ive or medieval Latin augmentativus, from the verb augmentare (see augment)