α. 1600s discoursitiue, 1600s discoursitive.
β. 1600s discourceative, 1600s discoursatiue, 1600s 1800s discoursative.
† discoursativeadj.
Obsolete.
1. Rational, reasonable; susceptible to rational argument or consideration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > [adjective]
reasoningc1454
dianoetical1570
discoursing1571
discoursory1581
ratiocinative1585
discoursive1588
discursive1595
discoursative1604
discursory1614
logistic1638
logistical1644
discussive1645
rationative1650
dianoetic1677
reasoned1684
ratiocinatory1728
raisonné1777
1604 C. Sutton Disce Mori (new ed.) ii. 30 As if it were onely some arbitrable matter, or discoursitiue.
1610 G. Markham Maister-peece i. vii. 17 Horses discerne by meanes of the vertue Imaginatiue, Discoursatiue, and Memoratiue.
1668 W. Dewsbury Gen. Epist. 3 Which grieveth the Spirit of the Lord, when men and women in a discoursitive spirit takes upon them to declare the Truth.
2. Disposed to discourse or conversation.
ΚΠ
1620 N. Butler Let. 9 Oct. in V. A. Ives Rich Papers: Lett. Bermuda (1984) 186 More true understandeinge of the condition and state of thes Ilands every waye willbe attayned by six moneths sight and experience here than by thousands of your discourceative Courts in England.
1655 Duchess of Newcastle Worlds Olio 115 A discoursative Wit, is to play with Words, rather than to talk with Sense on the ground of Reason.
1662 Duchess of Newcastle Playes Written sig. A5 A generous discoursitive Wit, although it be free, yet it is sweet and pleasing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1604