'annotative' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'annotare', where the prefix 'ad-' (appearing as 'an-' before 'nota') meant 'to/toward' and 'nota' meant 'mark' or 'note'.

'annotative' developed from the Latin verb 'annotare' (to mark, note) and the Late Latin adjective form 'annotativus'; the English adjective 'annotative' entered English via scholarly/learned Latin borrowings.

Initially it meant 'serving to mark or note' in a literal sense, and over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'serving to provide explanatory notes or commentary'.