putative
UK /ˈpjuː.tə.tɪv/ · US /ˈpju.tə.tɪv/ adjective
- adjective Commonly believed or deemed to be the case; generally assumed.
- adjective Accepted by supposition rather than as a result of proof.
- adjective Alleged, purported, ostensible, professed.
- adjective (sometimes proscribed) Prospective, potential, proposed.
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested c. 1432, from Middle French putatif, from Latin putātīvus (“supposed, purported”), from putātus (“thought”), from putō (“to think, to consider, to reckon”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed; as, the putative father of a child. "His other putative (I dare not say feigned) friends." E. Hall.
Etymology [L. putativus, fr. putare, putatum, to reckon, suppose, adjust, prune, cleanse. See Pure, and cf. Amputate, Compute, Dispute, Impute.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “putative”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details