abortive

abortive
abortive (adj.) late 14c., "born prematurely or dead," from L. abortivus "pertaining to miscarriage; causing abortion," from abort-, pp. stem of aboriri "disappear, miscarry," from ab- "amiss" (see AB- (Cf. ab-)) + oriri "appear, be born, arise" (see ORCHESTRA (Cf. orchestra)); the compound word used in L. for deaths, miscarriages, sunsets, etc. The Latin verb for "to produce an abortion" was abigo, lit. "to drive away." Not originally used to imply forced or deliberate miscarriage; from 14c.-18c. stillborn children or domestic animals were said to be abortive. Also see ABORTION (Cf. abortion). Related: Abortiveness.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Abortive — A*bor tive, a. [L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See {Abort}, v.] 1. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child. [R.] [1913 Webster] 2. Made from the skin of a still born animal; as, abortive vellum. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 3.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • abortive — abortive, aborted The central meaning of abortive since the time of Shakespeare has been ‘coming to nought, fruitless, useless, unsuccessful’. It can be applied to attempts, efforts, missions, coups, and rebellions, negotations, proposals, etc.,… …   Modern English usage

  • Abortive — may refer to: Abortion of pregnancy Abortive infection, a viral infection that infects a cell without reproducing into more infectious viruses. Abortive flower, a flower with a stamen but no pistil. This disambiguation page lists articles… …   Wikipedia

  • Abortive — A*bor tive, n. 1. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A fruitless effort or issue. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 3. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion; also called… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • abortive — index futile, imperfect, ineffective, ineffectual, otiose, unavailing, unproductive Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton …   Law dictionary

  • abortive — fruitless, vain, *futile, bootless Analogous words: *immature, unmatured, unripe: unformed (see FORMLESS): ineffectual, *ineffective, inefficacious: unfortunate, unlucky (see affirmative adjectives at LUCKY) Antonyms: consummated Contrasted words …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • abortive — [adj] failing to achieve a goal failed, failing, fruitless, futile, ineffective, ineffectual, miscarried, unavailing, unproductive, unsuccessful, useless, vain, worthless; concept 528 Ant. complete, consummated, effectual, efficient, fruitful,… …   New thesaurus

  • abortive — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ failing to produce the intended result; unsuccessful. DERIVATIVES abortively adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • abortive — [ə bôrt′iv] adj. [ME abortif < L abortivus: see ABORT] 1. coming to nothing; unsuccessful; fruitless 2. Biol. arrested in development; rudimentary 3. Med. a) causing abortion b) halting a disease process …   English World dictionary

  • Abortive — The word abortive has a number of meanings including prematurely born; fruitless or unsuccessful; imperfectly formed or developed; tending to cut short. In everyday language, the sense of abortive to mean prematurely born, as an abortive child,… …   Medical dictionary

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