Etymology From Latin translativus (“that is to be transferred”). Compare French translatif.
1
Of, or relating to the movement of a person or thing from one place to another.
2
Of, or relating to the translation of language.
Which suiting the case so well, you’ll forgive me, Sir, for popping down in English metre, as the translative impulse (pardon a new word, and yet we scholars are not fond of authenticating new words) came upon me uncalled for:1751, Samuel Richardson, Letters and Passages Restored from the Original Manuscripts of the History of Clarissa, volume 8, London, page 153:
3
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Of, or relating to the translative case.
1589, George Puttenham, The Arte of English Poesie, edited by Edward Arber, London: Alexander Murray & Son, 1869, Book 3, Chapter 18, p. 197, But properly and in his principall vertue Allegoria is when we do speake in sence translatiue and wrested from the owne signification, neuerthelesse applied to another not altogether contrary, but hauing much conueniencie with it as before we said of the metaphore: as for example if we should call the common wealth, a shippe; the Prince a Pilot, the Counsellours mariners, the stormes warres, the calme and [hauen] peace, this is spoken in allegorie […]