| 释义 |
consumptive, a. and n.|kənˈsʌm(p)tɪv|
[f. L. consumpt- ppl. stem of consūmĕre + -ive. Cf. mod.F. consomptif.]
A. adj.
1. Having a tendency to consume; wasteful, destructive.
1664Evelyn Sylva (1679) 20 If..he shall esteem it too consumptive of time. 1670Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 330 To manage such a thing as this in letters was a thing too tedious and consumptive. 1860Gosse Rom. Nat. Hist. 106 The consumptive energy of the termites, or white ants.
b. Wasteful of money, expensive, costly.
1748Walpole Lett. H. Mann (1834) II. clxxxvii. 225 Operas are the only consumptive entertainment.
†2. Consisting in, or characterized by, being consumed. Obs.
1647Jer. Taylor Dissuas. Popery ii. i. §8 Consumptive Offerings to Saints. 1651― Holy Dying iv. §8 They that make consumptive oblations. 1664H. More Myst. Iniq. 327 The ancient Heathen burnt incense to their Gods, which is a consumptive Sacrifice.
†3. Liable to be consumed or to decay; perishable. Obs.
1724Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 74 According to the nature of all consumptive bodies like ours.
4. Affected by wasting disease; wasted, sickly, reduced.
1655W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. Ded., The consumptive body of this our Nation, hath lost so much of her best blood and spirits. a1711Ken Anodynes Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 437 The Sun, which..Faint and consumptive Ardours cast. 1760Beattie Poems (1831) 193 Love has not injur'd my consumptive flocks.
5. spec. Relating or belonging to pulmonary consumption.
1670Clarendon Contempl. on Ps. Tracts (1727) 373 A deep consumptive sickness. 1747Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 51 A consumptive Cough. 1827Pollok Course T. iii. 107 Sin, with cold, consumptive breath.
b. Of persons: Having a tendency to, or affected with, consumption.
1660Pepys Diary 17 July, An old consumptive man. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 418 The consumptive patients have their particular ward. 1882M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal III. i. 3 He is consumptive and has not many years to live.
†6. Pecuniarily reduced, spent. Obs.
1753Smollett Ct. Fathom xiii, Her finances, which he knew to be in a most consumptive condition. 1758― Hist. Eng. (1800) II. 139 Considering the consumptive state of his finances.
7. Comm. Of or for consumption of produce.
consumptive demand: a demand for purposes of consumption, as opposed to a speculative demand.
1864Daily Tel. 5 Nov., A fair consumptive demand for wheat. 1887Pall Mall G. 28 Feb. 2/2 Indications that the world has overtaken in consumptive power the output of our machinery. 1888Glasgow Herald 29 Aug., Indian corn met a fair consumptive sale at late rates.
8. Comb., as consumptive-looking.
1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. III. xxxviii. 132 The consumptive-looking Jew.
B. n. [elliptical use of the adj.]
†1. A consumptive or corrosive agent. Obs.
1676Hale Contempl. i. 8 The great consumptives that do..exhaust that time. 1758J. S. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 323, I..dressed it..with the Consumptive, to destroy the fungous Flesh.
2. A consumptive patient or person.
1666G. Harvey Morb. Angl. (1672) 2 The Spring is bad for Consumptives. 1880V. Lee Stud. Italy iii. iii. 126 Where consumptives are sent to revive or to die.
Hence conˈsumptively adv., conˈsumptiveness.
1697T. Nevett Consumptions 61 My advice to the consumptive or consumptively inclined. 1730–6Bailey (folio), Consumptiveness, wasting condition or quality. 1755Johnson, Consumptiveness, a tendency to consumption. |