pre·formative I. \(ˈ)prē+\adjective Etymology: Latin praeformatus (past participle of praeformare to preform) + English -ive 1.: preforming 2.[pre- + formative, adjective]: being a prefix < a preformative affix > : characterized by the use of preformatives < the preformative conjugation > II. noun Etymology:pre- + formative, n. : prefix 1 — used especially in Semitic grammar; contrasted with afformative