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.