释义 |
communicative, a.|kəˈmjuːnɪkətɪv| Also 5 -ife, comynycatyue. [a. F. communicatif, -ive, f. L. commūnicāt-: see above and -ive.] 1. That has the quality or habit of communicating. In many applications. †a. That has the quality of communicating or diffusing itself, diffusive. Obs.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ii. ix. (1495) 37 The Cherubyn haue comynycatyue cunnynge, for the lyghte of wysdom that they receyue largly it stremyth by theim largely. c1400Apol. Loll. 22 The communicatife doctrine of broþer. 1645E. Calamy Indictm. agst. Eng. 31 A communicative mercy that perfumeth whole Kingdomes with blessings. 1651Jer. Taylor Serm. i. iii. 28 An evil so communicative that it doth..work like poison. 1719De Foe Crusoe (1840) II. vi. 155 True religion is naturally communicative. †b. Open to familiar intercourse; sociable; not stiff or reserved. Obs.
1602Patericke tr. Gentillet 313 A lover of the people, humane, kind, communicative, of easie accesse. 1673Rules of Civility vi. 66 Reservedness is..unwelcome to all Societies, when a hearty communicative man is useful and acceptable. 1753M. Johnson in Bibl. Topogr. Brit. III. 435, I..received great civilities from his communicative courtesy. a1791W. Maxwell in Boswell Johnson an. 1770 The most accessible and communicative man alive. †c. Of things: Sociable. Obs.
1617Moryson Itin. iii. 34 [Drunkenness] is communicatiue, and requires the emulation of companions. †d. Disposed to communicate or impart gifts, benefits, etc.; liberal, generous. Obs.
1655–60Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 218/1 As to the necessaries of Life, he was liberal and communicative, ready to do good. 1712Addison Spect. No. 519 ⁋5 Infinite Goodness is of so communicative a Nature, that it seems to delight in the conferring of Existence. 1737Whiston Josephus' Hist. ii. viii. §3 These men are despisers of riches, and..very communicative. e. with of.
1622Peacham Compl. Gent. (1634) 187 Whose uprightnesse..hath (like his owne starre communicative of it selfe) dispersed the fairer beames into all places. a1716Bp. O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. 437 He is communicative of his Gifts. 1784Cowper Task i. 332 Communicative of the good he owns. f. Ready to communicate information, etc.; free in conversation, open, talkative. (The usual current sense.)
1654Cromwell Sp. 12 Sept. (Carlyle), They became communicative. They told me, etc. a1661Fuller Worthies i. 184 That no less Communicative then Judicious Antiquary. a1714Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 267 They were in a particular manner communicative to me. 1777Sheridan Sch. Scand. iii. iii, I was always of a communicative disposition, so I thought it a shame to keep so much knowledge to myself. 1847–8H. Miller First Impr. v. (1861) 58 The lengthened anecdotes of the communicative Annette. 2. Suitable to communicate or convey information, etc. rare.
1664Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 147 It [a publication] would certainly be most communicative and effectual in Latin. 1885Stevenson in Contemp. Rev. Apr. 561 Choosing apt, explicit, and communicative words. †3. Fitted for, or capable of, being communicated; communicable. Obs.
1604T. Wright Passions 142 Not as words communicative to some few present auditors, but blazed to the world. 1689Col. Rec. Penn. I. 317 The Board's Readiness to Receive any thing ffrom him Communicative to them. 1742Richardson Pamela IV. 34 Subject to communicative Distempers, as scrophulous, or scorbutick..Disorders. †4. Commonly or generally applicable. Obs.
1641Milton Animadv. (1851) 228 If the reason of this..name, Angel, be equally collective, and communicative to the whole preaching ministry..then must the name be collectively, and communicatively taken. 5. Of or pertaining to communication.
1670Clarendon Ess. Tracts (1727) 137 The communicative duty which we owe to our brethren. 1710Shaftesbury Charac. i. §2 (1737) II. 81 A Creature..wholly destitute of a communicative or social Principle. 1863J. G. Murphy Comm. Gen. xi. 18–20 Introd., From the passive and receptive to the active and communicative stage. 1887Spectator 25 June 886/1 Establishing friendly and communicative relations with the people. |