a. Obs. [a. OF. charitatif, -ive, caritatif, -ive, med.L. cāritātīv-us charitable; see CHARITY and -IVE.]
1. Of the nature of, or pertaining to, charity.
1642. Bp. Reynolds, Exp. 110th Ps., 463–4. There is a twofold Benediction. The one Charitative, out of love.
1647. Hammond, Fraternal Admon., § 5. 3. There is a double correption or admonition; the former, paternall or authoritative; the latter, fraternall, or Charitative.
1652. W. Sclater (son), Civil Magistr. (1653), 23. Out of the charitative love of Justice.
1673. Ladies Calling, II. iii. § 23. The World is … seldom guilty of the charitative [errors], does not overlook the smallest appearance of evil, [etc.].
2. Of the nature of a charitable gift or donation.
1582. Grindal, Lett., Wks. (1843), 371. This visitation, I do mean that it shall be merely charitative, and not to burden the clergy of any procurations as yet.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., In the Canon Law, a charitative Aid, or Subsidy, is a moderate Allowance which a Council grants a Bishop upon any urgent Occasion; e. gr. when his Revenues will not bear his Expences to a Council, &c.
