combatative

English

Etymology

From combat +‎ -ative. First attested in 1835.

Adjective

combatative (comparative more combatative, superlative most combatative)

(proscribed) Uncommon form of combative.
- 1835, [Mary Shelley], “Ugo Foscolo”, in Lives of the Most Eminent Literary and Scientific Men of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, volume 2, page 374:
  He frequented mostly the society of women; because he thought them more richly endowed by nature with pity and modesty, two pacific qualities which, he said, alone temper the combatative propensities of human beings.
- 1860, Solon Robinson, How to Live: Saving and Wasting, or, Domestic Economy Illustrated, page 215:
  Some are loquacious; some are argumentative and religious; some are lascivious; some are excessively foolish; some are brutal, beastly, ugly, quarrelsome, wicked, combatative, murderous. Others are simply stupid.
- 1910, Edith M. Patch, O. A. Johannsen, Apple Tree Insects of Maine, page 25:
  As this caterpillar is very readily dislodged, jarring the tree and killing the insect on the ground is a convenient combatative measure.
- 1926, John Mersereau, The Whispering Canyon, page 41:
  Angus Cameron, he knew, was one of those unfortunates who are born with a sure knowledge of their constituted rights and the combatative zeal to defend them at any cost.
- 1997, Anders Andersson, Runes: The Secrets of the Stones, →ISBN, page 31:
  When Tyr appears in a reading a competitive, not combatative character is suggested.
- 2010, James Chambers, Footballers’ Haircuts: A New History, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, page 55:
  A combatative midfielder, his no-nonsense facial hair gives him the appearance of a gladiator looking for his next kill.

Usage notes

Though the form combatative is not of significantly later origin than combative, it is far less common and is now generally proscribed.