portative

P3O1R1T1A1T1I1V4E1

adjective

Portable.

“the portative force of a magnet, of atmospheric pressure, or of capillarity”

Similar
bearablecarriableportatilefieldablegrab-and-gohandcarriedportableshiftable
OriginMiddle French portatif →
First used 14th c.Scrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectiveportative (comparative more portative, superlative most portative)

comparative more portative · superlative most portative

  1. archaicPortable.First known use 14th c.

    Was neuere leef vpon lynde · liȝter þer-after / And portatyf and persant · as þe poynt of a nedle.

    c. 1385, William Langland, Piers Plowman, section I

    Synonyms: bearable, carriable, portatile, bearable, carriable, fieldable, grab-and-go, handcarried

  2. obsoleteCapable of holding up or carrying.First known use 15th–19th c.

    the portative force of a magnet, of atmospheric pressure, or of capillarity

nounportative (plural portatives)

plural portatives

  1. historicalA portative organ.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivePortable.

Similar
bearablecarriableportatilebearablecarriablefieldablegrab-and-gohandcarriedportableportatileshiftabletotabletransportable
Also see
bearablecarriablefieldablegrab-and-gohandcarriedportableportatiletotabletransportable

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchportatif
  2. Englishportative

From Middle French portatif, corresponding to port + -ative.

More words from Middle French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

portative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portative

MLA

“portative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portative. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “portative,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/portative.

Source: portative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.