different between provocative vs irritative

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French provocatif, and its source, Late Latin provocativus, from Latin provocare.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p???v?k.?.t?v/

Adjective

provocative (comparative more provocative, superlative most provocative)

1. Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
2. Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.

Related terms

• provoke
• provocation
• provocator

Related terms

• provocateur

Translations

Noun

provocative (plural provocatives)

1. (obsolescent) Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac. [from 15th c.]
   • 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:

     She used by way of Provocative, to read the wanton Verses of her Paramour in the day time [...].

Latin

Adjective

pr?voc?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of pr?voc?t?vus

English

Etymology

irritate +? -ive

Adjective

irritative (comparative more irritative, superlative most irritative)

1. serving to excite or irritate

2. accompanied with, or produced by, increased action or irritation
   • 1794, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia; or the Laws of Organic Life

     For the irritative ideas of the apparent motions of objects are now excited by irritation from internal stimulus

Noun

irritative (plural irritatives)

1. Any substance causing irritation; an irritant.

French

Adjective

irritative

1. feminine singular of irritatif

Italian

Adjective

irritative

1. feminine plural of irritativo

Anagrams

• irritatevi
• ritiratevi