a. and sb. [ad. L. frequentātīv-us (in the later L. grammarians), f. frequentāt- ppl. stem of frequentāre: see FREQUENT v. and -IVE. Cf. F. fréquentatif, -ive.]
A. adj.
† 1. Accustomed, versed in. Obs. Sc. rare–1.
1560. Rolland, The Court of Venus, II. 79.
| In siclik Actis thay [the Musis] ar frequentatiue, | |
| And mair facill ȝour mater will consaif. |
2. Gram. Of a verb or verbal form: Serving to express the frequent repetition of an action.
1533. Udall, Flowers Latine Speaking, 115. Rescio, rescis, resciui, rescitum, and a verbe frequentatiue of the same: Rescisco, resciscis. resciui, resciscere, rescitum.
1656. Hammond, Wks. (1684), II. 70. There is no such thing in the Greek language, as the variation of frequentative, transitive, and reciprocal.
1711. [see DESIDERATIVE a. 2].
1793. Beattie, Moral Sc., I. i. § 3. 58. The verbs called Deponent, Desiderative, Frequentative, Inceptive, &c.
1845. Stoddart, Encycl. Metrop., I. 50/1. The termination so in viso, has a desiderative force, in pulso, a frequentative, for the former is I go to see, the latter is I knock or push frequently.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. xxxvi. 414–5. Not only does the Algonkin verb admit the number of forms required for the diversity of time and mode; it has numerous conjugations. An action may be often repeated, and a frequentative conjugation follows.
B. sb. Gram. A frequentative verb, verbal form, or conjugation: see prec.
1530. Palsgr., 403. They knowe neyther frequentatyves, nor inchoatyves.
1626. Bp. Andrewes, Serm. (1856), I. 125. It is not exiliit neither, but exultavit. And that is a frequentative; and so he did it more than once.
1711. J. Greenwood, An Essay towards a Practical English Grammar, 193. By the addition of le, it becomes a Frequentative, as Sparkle, that is, it denotes the continuing to send out little Particles of Fire, and to disperse them about.
1870. F. Hall, Hindî Reader, 137. [Karnâ], following an uninfected past participle, forms a frequentative.
† b. ? An adverb expressing frequency. Obs.
1635. Grammar Warre, B viij. Many other Adverbs came to the Ayde of their King as Indicatives, Frequentatives, Meditatives, Diminutives and Denominatives, with their Bands, which were not to be contempned.
