'augmentive' originates from Latin, specifically from the verb 'augēre' (to increase) and the noun 'augmentum' (an increase), with the adjectival/derivational suffix '-ive' (from Latin/Old French) forming a word meaning 'tending to increase'.

'augmentive' developed via Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms (related to 'augmentum' and 'augmentare'), passed into Old French as forms like 'augmentatif'/'augmentif', and eventually entered English as 'augmentive' through Middle English and modern borrowings.

Initially related to the basic sense 'to increase' (from Latin 'augēre'), the term evolved to denote specifically an element that increases (a linguistic augmentative) or an adjective describing something that increases or adds.