amusiveadj.
/əˈmjuːzɪv/, U.S. /əˈmjuzɪv/ Now rare.† 1. Misleading, deceptive, illusive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > fancy or fantastic notion > deceptive fancy or illusion > [adjective]
phantom?c1450
fairy1549
illusory1599
scenical1610
illusive1679
amusive1727
barmecidal1844
illusionary1886
illusional1900
1727 J. Thomson Summer 77 An Arch, Amusive, forms, then slanting down eludes The Grasp of idle Swain.
1766 J. Beattie Epist. Blacklock in Poems Several Subj. 149 Th' amusive dream of blameless fancy born.
1819 W. Coxe Mem. John Duke of Marlborough III. xviii. 662 We are convinced, that his overtures were merely amusive.
1887 W. C. Russell Golden Hope III. vi. 117 All that had come into the babe out of the magic within the amusive and deceptive girdle of the waters, could be felt.
2.
a. Occupying the mind or attention in a pleasing way, esp. as a diversion from more serious matters; providing recreation or relaxation.
ΚΠ
1727 Templer's Bill of Complaint 6 Now nor roseate Lips,..nor amusive Tea.., on Morns provoke Detractive Tale, or amorous Disport.
c1750 W. Shenstone Wks. (1764) I. 112 Some for amusive tasks design'd, To sooth the certain ills of life.
1817 Spirit of Eng. Mag. 15 Nov. 136/2 An anxious desire to conform every pursuit.., to the amusive recreation of a passing hour.
1939 Mod. Lang. Rev. 34 267 Early nineteenth-century ideas of poetry aroused all his puritan instincts against mere amusive fiction.
b. Interesting, engaging.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [adjective] > comical
merryc1390
pleasant1553
comical1575
mowsome1596
zany1616
burlesque1656
humoursome1656
farce-like1681
foolish1691
farcical1715
amusive1727
farciful1731
funny1739
farcic1763
quizzical1785
quizzy1785
quizzish1792
rib-tickling1809
smileable1830
cocasse1868
priceless1907
skit1914
funny-ha-ha1916
gas1955
1727 J. Mitchell Shoe-heel 41 Oft on the Sea-shore would they gather Shells, Amusive; and their Shape and Colour view.
1775 G. White in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 65 265 I have regarded these amusive birds with great attention.
1865 Reader 25 Feb. 221/1 Abridging from a larger work so as to retain its most amusive features.
1973 W. H. Auden Coll. Poems (1994) xiii. 893 Stationaries, both of you..kin spirits, who found all creatures amusive.
3. Tending or intended to cause amusement; entertaining; humorous, funny.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > [adjective] > amusing or entertaining
sportful1445
solaciousc1450
recreativec1487
good1489
sportsome1533
entertaining1582
divertive1598
pastiming1606
distractful1636
diverting1651
divertising1655
divertissanta1660
lightsome1679
amusive1730
amusing1753
musical1815
fun1827
funsy1958
1730 R. Savage Verses Viscountess Tyrconnel's Recovery 4 The Goddess summons each illustrious name, Bids the Gay talk, and forms th'amusive game.
1781 W. Hayley Triumphs of Temper ii. 96 Curiosity's amusive wings.
1842 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 51 423 An article for the Edinburgh Review, more spicy and amusive.
1918 Nation 28 Feb. 237/2 His affair of the heart..in its swift, bright spontaneity is in richly amusive contrast with the hesitating, perplexed American courtship of the later time.
2021 Financial Express (India) (Nexis) 7 Feb. Both amusive and provocative, social media creates disruption.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1727