emotive
UK[ɪˈməʊtɪv]US[ɪˈmoʊtɪv]
adj
relating to or expressing strong feelings or emotions.
adj
tending to arouse or appeal to the emotions.
Morpheme Breakdown
e
mot
ive
e
out
mot
move
ive
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'emotive' is built upon the classical latin verb 'movere', meaning 'to move'. the prefix 'e-', a variant of 'ex-', signifies 'outwardly' or 'forth'. thus, the literal sense of the combined form is 'to move out' or 'to stir up'. this core idea of causing movement was metaphorically extended in latin to the realm of feelings, giving rise to words like 'emotus' (agitated, stirred up). the modern english adjective 'emotive', formed with the suffix '-ive', directly inherits this figurative meaning, describing something that has the quality of moving or stirring emotions, either by expressing them or by being designed to arouse them in others.
Analysis
Structure: e (out) + mot (move) + ive (adjective suffix)
e: a latin prefix (a form of 'ex-'), meaning 'out' or 'forth'. it indicates a direction or result.
mot: from latin 'motus', the past participle stem of 'movere', meaning 'to move'. it functions as the core root.
ive: a latin-derived suffix used to form adjectives meaning 'having the nature or quality of', 'tending to', or 'performing the action of'.
Examples
the speaker used highly emotive language to describe the suffering of the refugees.
the decision was based on rational analysis rather than emotive arguments.
the film's score is powerfully emotive, enhancing every key scene.