adoptive

adoptive
adoptively, adv.
/euh dop"tiv/, adj.
1. of or involving adoption.
2. acquired or related by adoption: an adoptive father or son.
3. tending to adopt.
[1400-50; < L adoptivus; see ADOPT, -IVE; r. late ME adoptife < MF adoptif]
Usage. Although ADOPTIVE in the sense "acquired or related by adoption" can refer to either parent or child in such a relationship, ADOPTIVE is customarily applied to the parent (her adoptive mother) and adopted to the child (their adopted son).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • adoptive — [ə däp′tiv] adj. [L adoptivus] 1. having to do with adoption 2. having become so by the act of adoption [adoptive parents] adoptively adv …   English World dictionary

  • adoptive — (adj.) early 15c., from M.Fr. adoptif, from L. adoptivus pertaining to adoption, from stem of adoptere (see ADOPT (Cf. adopt)) …   Etymology dictionary

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  • adoptive — a•dop•tive [[t]əˈdɒp tɪv[/t]] adj. 1) of or involving adoption 2) use acquired or related by adoption: an adoptive father[/ex] 3) tending to adopt • Etymology: 1400–50; late ME < MF < L a•dop′tive•ly, adv. usage: adoptive is customarily… …   From formal English to slang

  • adoptive — /əˈdɒptɪv / (say uh doptiv) adjective 1. related by adoption: an adoptive father; an adoptive son. 2. tending to adopt: adoptive of new technology. 3. (of children) for adoption. –adoptively, adverb …  

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