commonly regarded as such; reputed; supposed: the putative boss of the mob.
Origin: 1400–50;late Middle English < Late Latinputātīvus reputed, equivalent to putāt(us) (past participle of putāre to think, consider, reckon, orig. to clean, prune) + -īvus-ive
(prenominal) commonly regarded as being: the putative father
2.
(prenominal) considered to exist or have existed; inferred
3.
grammar denoting a mood of the verb in some languages used when the speaker does not have direct evidence of what he is asserting, but has inferred it on the basis of something else
[C15: from Late Latin putātīvus supposed, from Latin putāre to consider]
mid-15c., from M.Fr. putatif, from L. putativus "supposed" (c.200), from putatus, pp. of putare "think, suppose, count, reckon," originally "to prune" (see pave). At first esp. in putative marriage, one which, though legally invalid, was contracted in good faith by at least one party.