abortive

1. v. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child. Source: opted

2. v. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum. Source: opted

3. v. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. Source: opted

4. v. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. Source: opted

5. v. Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc. Source: opted

6. v. Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. Source: opted

7. v. Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever. Source: opted

8. n. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. Source: opted

9. n. A fruitless effort or issue. Source: opted

10. n. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion. Source: opted

11. adj. failing to accomplish an intended result Source: wordnet

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. Source: webster

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