Tentative, a.
Etymology: [L. tentare to try: cf. F. tentatif. See Tempt.]
Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental. "A slow, tentative manner." Carlyle. -- Ten*ta"tive*ly, adv.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Tentative, n.
An essay; a trial; an experiment. Berkley.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists tentative only as an antonym, under radical.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given