Early 17th century; earliest use found in Arthur Gorges (d. 1625), poet and translator. From post-classical Latin pronuntiativus indicative (from 3rd cent. in grammarians), dogmatic (although this is apparently first attested slightly later: 1622 in a British source) from classical Latin prōnuntiāt-, past participial stem of prōnuntiāre + -īvus. Compare Middle French prononciatif declarative, French prononciatif of, relating to, or derived from pronunciation, Spanish †pronunciativo (of a stage of a trial) characterized by pronouncement of the sentence.