'appointive' originates from the English adjective formed from the verb 'appoint', which itself comes from Old French 'apointer' (to arrange, fix) and ultimately from Latin elements 'ad-' meaning 'to' and a root related to 'punctum/point' meaning 'point'.

'appoint' entered English via Old French 'apointer' and Middle English 'appointen'; the adjective-forming suffix '-ive' (from Latin '-ivus') was added in later English to produce 'appointive'.

Initially related to 'fixing' or 'pointing' (arranging), the sense shifted toward 'assigning to an office'; 'appointive' therefore came to mean 'given by appointment' in modern usage.