curativ

Curativ is an adjective used in several Romance languages to denote healing or therapeutic properties. In Romanian and Catalan, for example, curativ forms are adapted to gender and number, and they appear in phrases that describe treatments, effects, or substances intended to cure. In Romanian, masculine form is curativ and feminine form is curativă, with common phrases such as tratament curativ (curative treatment) or efect curativ (curative effect). In Catalan, related forms such as curatiu (masculine) and curativa (feminine) serve a similar function.

The term is etymologically linked to Latin curativus, which gave rise to various reflexes in Romance languages, including curatif in French and curative in English. In English, curativ by itself is not standard usage; the conventional adjective is curative. The broader semantic field covers medicines, procedures, and strategies aimed at curing disease or restoring health, rather than merely alleviating symptoms.

Usage and context vary by language. In medical writing, curative terminology is used to distinguish treatments intended to eliminate disease from palliative or supportive approaches. In everyday language, speakers may rely on language-specific forms to indicate curative intent, sometimes pairing curativ with nouns for clarity, such as curativ treatment, curativ effect, or similar constructions.

See also: curative, therapeutic, healing. Note that curativ as a stand-alone English term is uncommon; readers are more likely to encounter curative in English texts.