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Definition abortive

Etymology

First attested in 1382, with the meaning "causing stillbirth or miscarriage". From Middle English, from Old French abortif, from Latin abort?vus (“causing abortion”), from aborior (“miscarry, disappear”), from ab (“amiss”) + or?or (“appear, be born, arise”).

Adjective

abortive (comparative more abortive, superlative most abortive)

1. (obsolete) Produced by abortion; born prematurely and therefore unnatural. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 18 century.]
2. Coming to nothing; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful. [First attested in the late 16 century.]
3. (biology) Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile. [First attested in the mid 18 century.]
4. (pharmacology, medicine, rare, attributive) Causing abortion; abortifacient
5. (medicine) Cutting short; acting to halt or slow the progress (of a disease).
6. Made from the skin of a still-born animal.

Noun

abortive (plural abortives)

1. (obsolete) That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. [Attested from around (1150 to 1350) until the mid 18 century.]
2. (obsolete) A fruitless effort or issue. [Attested from the early 17 century until the early 18 century.]
3. (obsolete) A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion, abortifacient.

Verb

abortive (third-person singular simple present abortives, present participle abortiving, simple past and past participle abortived)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To cause an abortion; to render without fruit. [Attested only in the 17 century.]

Results 245 Words with the letters ABORTIVE

You can also try words with the phrase ABORTIVE, words starting with the letters ABORTIVE, or words ending in the letters ABORTIVE.

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