consultative
Meaning
Relating to or involving consultation; giving advice or recommendations.
Structure
Usage
The committee plays a purely consultative role, with no executive power.
She prefers a more consultative management style, involving her team in all major decisions.
The government established a consultative body to gather opinions from industry experts.
Etymology
The word 'consultative' is built upon the Latin verb 'consulere', which meant to deliberate, take counsel, or consult. This verb itself is thought to be a compound, possibly from 'com-' (together) and a base related to 'salire' (to leap), suggesting a "coming together" to deliberate. The frequentative form 'consultare' (to consult repeatedly) passed into English as the verb 'consult'. The suffix '-ative', derived from Latin '-ativus', is then added to form the adjective, shifting the meaning from the action of consulting to the quality or function of being involved in that process. Thus, 'consultative' logically describes a process, body, or style that is characterized by or designed for seeking and giving advice.
Analysis
consult: From Latin 'consultare' (to deliberate, consider), frequentative of 'consulere' (to take counsel). Functions as the core verb root. ative: A suffix of Latin origin ('-ativus'), used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by" the action of the verb.