'inscriptive' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'inscriptivus', where 'in-' meant 'on' and 'scribere' meant 'to write'.

'inscriptive' changed from Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'inscriptivus' and passed into English via Medieval or early Modern Latin and Middle English forms, eventually becoming the modern English adjective 'inscriptive'.

Initially, it meant 'written on' or 'having been written on', and over time it evolved into the current adjectival sense 'relating to or serving as an inscription'.