Thesaurus: abortive

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child.
2. v. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum.
3. v. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual.
4. v. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt.
5. v. Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.
6. v. Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines.
7. v. Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.
8. n. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
9. n. A fruitless effort or issue.
10. n. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion.
11. adj. failing to accomplish an intended result
12. 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. 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. Dunglison.