generative

Etymology

From Middle English generatyve, generatyf, generatif. Compare French génératif.

adj

1. Having the power of generating, propagating, originating, or producing.
   Of course, structures like those associated with (36) and (37) constitute only a tiny subset of the infinite set of well-formed sentence structures found in English. We can increase the Generative Capacity of our grammar ( = the set of structures which it generates) either by expanding the Lexicon on the one hand, or by expanding the Categorial Rules (i.e. Phrase Structure Rules) on the other. 1988, Andrew Radford, Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 127
2. (euphemistic) reproductive
   This ceremony seals the covenant in the flesh of the male generative organ. 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 91