abortive
AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (1)
- failing to accomplish an intended result“an abortive revolt”“a stillborn plot to assassinate the President”Synonyms: stillbornunsuccessfulOpposite fruitfulSimilar unfruitful
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See Abort, verb
1. Produced by abortion.as, an abortive child. rare [ + ]
2. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum. obsolete
3. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. obsolete “Plunged in that abortive gulf.” John Milton
4. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. “An abortive enterprise.” William Hickling Prescott
5. Biology Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc. AS
6. Medicine (a) Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. Bartholomew. Parr AS (b) Cutting short the period of an illness; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever. [ + ]
1. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. obsolete William Shakespeare
2. A fruitless effort or issue. obsolete
3. Medicine A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion; — also called an abortifacient. Dunglison, Robley
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: +PJC, AS