depressive
UK[dɪˈprɛsɪv]US[dɪˈprɛsɪv]
adj
Causing feelings of severe despondency and dejection.
adj
Relating to or suffering from clinical depression.
n
A person suffering from or prone to depression.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
press
ive
de
down
press
press
ive
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'depressive' is built upon the Latin verb premere, meaning "to press." The prefix de- intensifies this action, giving the compound deprimere the sense of "to press down, to subdue." This literal meaning evolved metaphorically in Medieval Latin and later in psychological contexts to describe the act of lowering someone's spirits or the state of being mentally "pressed down." The English adjective-forming suffix -ive was added, creating a term that describes something or someone characterized by or tending to produce this state of emotional pressing down or profound sadness.
Analysis
Structure: de (down) + press (press) + ive (adjective suffix)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down, away, off, completely."
press: Latin origin (from premere, "to press"), acting as the core root.
ive: Latin suffix (-ivus), forming adjectives meaning "tending to, having the nature of."
Examples
The rainy weather had a deeply depressive effect on her mood.
He was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder.
The documentary explored the challenges faced by a chronic depressive.