reductive

The story

1. Latin · derived fromreducere“to reduce”
2. Late Latin · derived fromreductivus
3. Middle French · derived fromréductif
4. English todayreductive

From Middle French réductif, from Late Latin reductivus, from the participle stem of Latin reducere (“to reduce”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. Pertaining to the reduction of a decree etc.; rescissory.
• from 17th c. Causing the physical reduction or diminution of something.
• from 17th c. That reduces a substance etc. to a more simple or basic form.
• from 17th c. That can be derived from, or referred back to, something else.
• from 20th c. That reduces an argument, issue etc. to its most basic terms; simplistic, reductionist.