1560s, "declaratory, positive, full of assertion," from assert (v.) + -ive. Meaning "insisting on one's rights or authority" is short for self-assertive.
an energetic assertive boy who was always ready to argue
pointing directly at a listener is an assertive act
assemble
assembly
assent
assert
assertion
assertive
assertively
assertiveness
assess
assessable
assessment
)window.location='https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=byronic106@yahoo.com&lc=US&item_name=Donation+to +Help+Keep+Etymonline+Free+and+Open&no_note=0&cn=&curency_code=USD&bn=PP-DonationsBF:btn_donateCC_LG.gif:NonHosted'){kind=link}