Pu"ta*tive (?), a. [L. putativus, fr. putare, putatum, to reckon, suppose, adjust, prune, cleanse. See Pure, and cf. Amputate, Compute, Dispute, Impute.]
Commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed; as, the putative father of a child.
"His other
putative (I dare not say feigned) friends."
E. Hall.
Thus things indifferent, being esteemed useful or pious, became customary, and then came for reverence into a putative and usurped authority.
Jer. Taylor.
© Webster 1913.