af·form·a·tive I. \aˈfȯ(r)məd.iv, əˈ-\noun (-s) Etymology:ad- + formative : suffix 1 — used especially in Semitic grammar; contrasted with preformative II. \(ˈ)a|f-, əˈf-\adjective : characterized by the use of suffixes < the afformative conjugation > : being an afformative < an afformative element >