Meaning of ABORTIVE
| Pronunciation: | | u'bortiv
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | [adj] failing to accomplish an intended result; "an abortive revolt"; "a stillborn plot to assassinate the President" |
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| | Synonyms: | | stillborn, unfruitful, unsuccessful |
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| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
\A*bor"tive\, a. [L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See
{Abort}, v.]
1. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive
child. [R.]
2. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive
vellum. [Obs.]
3. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. [Obs.] ``Plunged in
that abortive gulf.'' --Milton.
4. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying;
fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. ``An
abortive enterprise.'' --Prescott.
5. (Biol.) Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary;
sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.
6. (Med.)
(a) Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. --Parr.
(b) Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid
fever.
\A*bor"tive\, n.
1. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an
abortion. [Obs.] --Shak.
2. A fruitless effort or issue. [Obs.]
3. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing
abortion.
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| Thesaurus Terms |
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| | Related Terms: | | barren, bootless, failed, failing, fruitless, futile, gainless, immature, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, lame, manque, miscarried, miscarrying, nonremunerative, of no effect, otiose, profitless, rewardless, sterile, stickit, stillborn, successless, unavailable, unavailing, unformed, unfortunate, unmatured, unproductive, unprofitable, unremunerative, unrewarding, unripe, unsuccessful, useless, vain |
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