attractiveadj.n.

Brit.

/əˈtraktɪv/, U.S.

/əˈtræktɪv/

Forms: Middle English actractiue, Middle English attractif, Middle English attractyff, Middle English–1500s attractyue, Middle English–1700s attractiue, 1500s atractyue, 1500s attractife, 1500s attractyfe, 1500s attractyffe, 1500s– attractive, 1600s atractive, 1600s attrectiue, 1600s attrective; Scottish pre-1700 1700s– attractive.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French attractif; Latin attractivus.

Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French atractif, attractif, Middle French actractif (French attractif ) absorptive (13th cent. in Old French), that has the property of ‘drawing’ matter or humours (13th cent.), that has the property of drawing to itself by some physical force bodies not materially attached to it (c1270), that has the quality of attracting interest or influencing the behaviour of people, persuasive, seductive (15th cent.), and its etymon (ii) post-classical Latin attractivus that attracts, having the attribute of drawing or sucking in (6th cent.), having the property of ‘drawing’ matter or humours (12th cent.) < classical Latin attract- , past participial stem of attrahere attract v. + -īvus -ive suffix. Compare Old Occitan atractiu (c1350 in virtut atractiva), Catalan atractiu (14th cent.), Spanish atractivo (1410), Portuguese atractivo, (now chiefly Brazilian) atrativo (15th cent. as atractiuo), all earliest in medical or scientific contexts, and Italian attrattivo (a1294 with reference to seductive actions, words, etc.; 14th cent. in medical contexts in sense ‘absorptive’; 15th cent. with reference to pleasant things, e.g. food, beautiful women, etc.).With the uses as noun compare post-classical Latin attractiva attractive power (13th cent. in British sources), attractivum ‘drawing’ medicament (13th cent.), Old French atratif, Middle French atractif, attractif absorptive medicament (c1300 in an apparently isolated attestation in Old French, subsequently from 1478), something that attracts or seduces people (16th cent.; rare), Italian attrattiva quality that attracts people (a1614).

A. adj. Having the attribute of attracting; liable or tending to attract something or someone.

1. Designating the ability of a living thing or its parts to take in liquids, nutrients, etc.; having this ability; absorptive. Also figurative. Cf. attract v. 4a. Now historical and rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > absorption or assimilation (of a substance, etc.) > [adjective]

attractivea1398

introsumptive1657

absorbent1726

intussusceptive1882

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iv. iii. 138 By þe vertu attractiue ‘of drawinge’ [L. vi actiua] he [sc. a plant] drawiþ to it norischinge.

?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 116 (MED) Vertue attractyue [L. virtus attractiva]..is destroyed of labour, ire, anguyssh..as seiþ Rasis.

a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 96 (MED) Vche sawle..hauys two stryngthes rennynge togedre yn þe body..oon..is a tokenynge, þe oþer ys wirkand, þat glorious god hauys inlightyd of vij strenghes: of stryngthe attractyue and retractyf, of stryngthe digestyf and purgatyf.

1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Iii^v The sprite selfe shalbe meruailously rauisshed and soked vp by the farre more stronge and attractiue power of the hieghest sprite of all, whiche is God.

1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke iii. xxx. 119 If such egestions come forth without that heauines, you may iudge their strength to be weake, either the attractiue vertue which fetcheth out the cholericke humour from the liuer, or weakenes of the expulsiue vertue, which driueth out to the bowels.

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. ii. v. 31 This attractiue power is very necessary in Plants, which sucke vp moisture by the root.

1713 Countess of Winchilsea Misc. Poems 91 Vapours Which..rise In Clouds to the attractive Brain.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Faculty Others subdivide the Vegetative Faculty into Attractive, Retentive, Concoctive, and Expulsive.

1848 W. Gregory tr. J. Liebig Researches Motion Juices Animal Body 81 From his experiments he [sc. Hales] deduces the presence of a powerful attractive force, residing in every part of the plant.

2009 H. M. Paavilainen Medieval Pharmacotherapy ii. 44 The attractive faculty made it possible for the body to draw to itself the nutrients needed for its preservation.

2. Medicine. Of a medicinal agent or treatment: having the property of drawing to itself venom, humours, other body fluids, etc. Cf. attract v. 1a. Now historical and rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > medicine to draw, disperse, etc., matter or humours > [adjective] > drawing

drawinga1398

attractivea1400

extractive1599

attractory1641

eductive1657

epispastic1657

attrahent1661

trahent1661

a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 333 (MED) Eueri þing þat is hoot is attractif [L. attractiuum].

?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 168 Medicynes attractiuez [L. medicina attractiva]..drawe materies fro noble membres & fro profounde, i.depe, to vnnoble membrez.

1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. xxvi^v For aches & payne in the armes use seare clothes that be attractyue.

1597 J. Tanner Serm. Paules Crosse (new ed.) 46 A sore bitten with a venemous beast, can not be healed, except by an attractiue medicine.

1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 53 Drawing or attractiue playsters.

1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xxvi. x. 1039 An attractive medicine is contrary to the repeller.

1786 Chambers's Cycl. (new ed.) Attractives, or attractive remedies..which are to be externally applied.

1833 Lancet 14 Sept. 775/1 Blisters, and all ‘attractive’ methods, render, besides, this most useful service,—that they can remedy the retrocessions, or prevent the fatal metastases of this disease [sc. erysipelas].

1997 M. R. McVaugh & M. S. Ogden Inventarium sive Chirurgia Magna II. 107 Following Avicenna, Guy understands mollificatives to have attractive properties.

a. Of a force: that attracts certain substances or objects without physical contact between them being necessary. Of an object or substance: having the property of exerting such a force of attraction.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adjective] > drawing towards or attracting

attractivec1540

attractical1701

soliciting1704

attracting?1790

c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Cosmogr. xv, in Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. sig. Cv^v Ane maner of electuar..hewit like gold, and sa attractiue of nature, that it drawis stra.

1581 R. Norman Newe Attractiue 5 The Attractiue strength of a small Magnes of two or three pounde weight.

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1337 There is not in that voidnesse any puissance attractive [Fr. puissance attractiue] of bodies.

1656 tr. T. Hobbes Elements Philos. iv. xxx. 391 The attractive power of the Loadstone.

1746 Scots Mag. Dec. 577/2 Electrics per se, or originally electrics, I call those bodies in which an attractive power towards light substances is easily excited by friction.

1794 W. Herschel in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 85 46 Sir Isaac Newton has shewn that the sun, by its attractive power, retains the planets of our system in their orbits.

1828 Liverpool Mercury 5 Sept. 288/3 The appearance of comets is particularly interesting as illustrative of the action of the attractive force of the planets.

1861 Thunder & Lightning 5 in Atoms & Electric Forces of Earth He first of all, made a lump of sulphur electrically attractive by rubbing it.

1928 Pop. Mech. May 783/1 Relatively expensive metals..are commonly used to increast the attractive power of magnets.

1978 H. M. Rosenberg Solid State (ed. 2) i. 11 There must be an attractive force between atoms, because otherwise solids would not be formed.

2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 May a19/5 On the other hand, the dark energy could decrease and even turn into an attractive force, drawing the universe to an end in a ‘big crunch’.

b. figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΚΠ

1582 T. Watson Ἑκατομπαθία: Passionate Cent. Loue xxi. sig. C3 Theire beames drawe forth by great attractiue power My moistned hart.

1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 105 Heere's a mettle more attractiue.

a1750 A. Hill Wks. (1753) III. 281 Silver mines; Whose wealth, attractive, draws, from lovelier lands, Advent'rous thousands, to those barren strands!

1840 H. H. Milman Poet. Wks. II. viii. 196 Virtue holds The like attractive influence, draws around Souls light and earthly-tainted, till they catch The fair contagion of her beauty.

1846 Andrewes's Pattern Catechistical Doctr. & Other Minor Wks. (new ed.) 109 Then seeing magnes amoris est amor, ‘love is the lode-stone attractive of love’.

1990 A. Aronowicz tr. E. Levinas Nine Talmudic Readings 33 The temptation of temptation is not the attractive pull exerted by this or that pleasure.

4. That attracts attention, interest, or affection; that arouses sexual or romantic feelings.Now the most common sense.

a. Having the quality of attracting attention, interest, affection, or other pleasurable emotion; interesting, engaging, pleasing.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective]

gracious1340

glorious skinnyc1400

drawing1435

gracefulc1449

attrayant1477

well-favoured1539

alluring1567

graceda1586

attracting1589

attractive1592

winning1596

appealing1598

taking1603

allicient1613

enchantinga1616

motive1615

temptinga1616

allurant1631

catchinga1640

gaining1642

canny1643

charmful1656

charming1664

mignon1671

disarminga1718

prepossessing1737

seducing1749

seductive176.

eye-catching1770

sweet1779

catchy1784

attaching1785

engaging1816

cute1834

cunning1843

taky1854

cynosural1855

smart1860

fetching1880

seductious1883

fruity1900

barry1923

hot stuff1928

swoony1934

dishy1961

dolly1964

jiggy1996

aegyo2007

1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 83 Framing violent and attractiue wordes [It. cum uiolente & atractiue carolette], she gaue me assurance.

1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 389 By his attractiue vertues..confirmed to him the hearts of all his subiects.

1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman Table sig. † Decency, the attractivest motive of affection.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 298 For contemplation hee and valour formd, For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace.

1726 J. Dennis Stage Defended 23 Is this Pamplet..writ in the attractive Language of Charity?

1781 S. Johnson Pope in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets VII. 293 The Rape of the Lock..is universally allowed to be the most attractive of all ludicrous compositions.

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. i. 14 Interesting and attractive for those who live to hear an old man's stories of a past age.

1859 Sat. Rev. 23 July 103 It tells it in a style almost as attractive as a novel.

1890 L. B. Robinson Bundle of Lett. from over Sea iv. 88 We took an early drive through the always attractive streets and parks of Paris.

1923 C. Mackenzie Seven Ages of Woman iii. 112 My dear, innocence is a charming and attractive quality; but do not be too ingénue.

1958 Life 14 Apr. 19/2 There was no better single tonic for the economy than relentless advertising..of attractive goods at attractive prices.

1988 G. Greene Captain & Enemy viii. 133 I continued..visiting her once a week—if nothing more attractive presented itself.

2007 Flora Internat. July 2 The wild Clematis..is attractive when in flower.

b. spec. Of a person: pleasing to look at; arousing sexual or romantic feelings.

ΚΠ

a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. v. 4 He accus'd his Confidents of stupidity, or envy, for describing the faire French Lady far lesse attractive then hee found her.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. viii. 307 Young, rich, and attractive, the world at your feet.

1815 Sporting Mag. 45 79 She was..too personable and attractive a nymph to be without a swain.

1846 F. M. Trollope Attractive Man I. v. 110 This lady..had once been a celebrated beauty, and..was still very attractive.

1878 ‘Ouida’ Friendship I. 85 ‘Do you think her attractive?’ ‘No, not at all.’

1902 W. Cather Treasure of Far Island i, in New Eng. Mag. Oct. 237/1 Wait till you've seen them at rehearsals in soiled shirtwaists... Poor things! They have to work too hard to bother about being attractive.

1934 J. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra iv. 102 It was..understood by every hostess that a popular, attractive young man should not be designated the escort of any but popular, attractive girls.

1967 S. Attanasio tr. H. Hohendorf Life & Times of Goethe 44 Christiane was a short, attractive brunette, with a pristine mouth and round cheeks.

2001 K. Izzo & C. Marsh Fabulous Girl's Guide to Decorum (2002) 213 Casual sex with an attractive and sympathetic man will do wonders for your ego.

5. Having the quality of attracting living beings by influencing their behaviour.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense A. 4a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [adjective]

tolling?c1225

ticinga1400

allectivec1487

illecebrous1531

alluring1534

tracting1535

wooing1549

enticing1553

training1557

tittling1560

luring1570

adamantine1581

baiting1585

winning1596

attractive1600

adamantic1605

adamantive1605

enticeable1607

soliciting1608

magnetic1611

invitinga1616

allurant1631

inescating1633

invitative1634

magnetical1638

invitatory1646

tractive1658

odalisque1837

Pied Piper1869

lureful1887

follow-me1888

luresome1889

come-hitherish1901

come-hither1905

come-hithery1919

invitational1922

come-hithering1935

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. ii. 97 She hath blessed, and attractiue eyes.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. Ep. to Vespas. Although your gentlenesse and humanitie be one way attrective, and induceth me to draw neare unto your presence.

1730 J. Southall Treat. Buggs 32 My Liquor has an attractive as well as the destructive Quality, and thereby does bring out and destroy every live Bugg.

1862 J. S. Mill Utilitarianism 60 The repelling influence of pain as well as the attractive one of pleasure.

1882 Entomologist Feb. 43 I do not know whether any real reason is assigned why ivy blossom should be so fatally attractive to moths.

1927 Sci. Monthly Dec. 501/2 The so-called mosquito repellents..are effective merely because they change or disguise the attractive odors from the human skin.

1977 Jrnl. Parasitology 63 847/2 The effects may be mediated..by the females being stimulated to diminish or increase their attractive pheromone secretion.

2013 Evening Standard (Nexis) 11 Feb. 11 Animal welfare organisations had been advising residents on making homes and gardens less attractive to foxes.

†6. Capable of gripping or holding a substance to itself. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adjective] > drawing towards or attracting > by contact

attractive1607

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 104 The tongue of a cat is very attractiue, and forcible like a file, attenuating by licking the flesh of a man.

B. n.

†1. Medicine. A medicinal agent or treatment that draws to itself venom, humours, other body fluids, etc. Cf. attract v. 1a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > medicine to draw, disperse, etc., matter or humours > [noun] > drawing medicine

attractivea1400

attrahent1786

derivative1843

a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 60 Leie aboue þe wounde actractiuis [L. res attractiuas], to drawe out þe venym.

c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 147 (MED) Malancolious blood is drawen wiþ attractiuis vn to þe ers for to procuren þe emerowdis for to preseruen þe pacient fro woodnesse.

1543 B. Traheron tr. J. de Vigo Most Excellent Wks. Chirurg. ii. iii. f. lix/2 In the begynnynge we vse not the intentions prescrybed in the cure of flegmon, but contrary wyse we vse attractyues, and resolutiues.

1592 N. Gyer Eng. Phlebotomy xxvii. 278 It [sc. cupping] is cæteris attractiuis fortius: stronger than any other attractiues: thus in harde apostumations, it draweth the matter outward.

1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 40 The safest way..to cure the poyson, is by attractiues.

1686 G. Harvey Conclave of Physicians (ed. 2) ii. x. 114 A potent Attractive of some dry resiny Powder, one degree above Saw-dust, was applied to the Soals of her Feet.

1739 J. Keogh Zoologia Medicinalis Hibernica 127 If the poison be immediately wash'd off, and drawn forth by attractives, there will be good hopes of cure.

1797 Encycl. Brit. X. 645/2 If astringent medicines..insensibly expel any stagnating matter from the parts where it is contained, they are then called discutients; and..stimulants, or attractives, if they bring a greater flux of humours to the part to which they are applied.

†2. That which attracts (attract v. 1b) something to itself, through the action of gravitational, electrical, magnetic, or intermolecular forces, or chemical affinity. Also figurative. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [noun] > drawing towards itself or attraction > that which

attractive1581

attracter1606

attractor1646

allicient1658

attrahent1661

attractant1814

the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > one who or that which > that which

lurec1385

baitc1400

traina1425

allective1445

allurement1548

lodestone?1577

attractive1581

invites1615

magnetic1645

magnet1655

invitatory1666

track1672

glittering prize1713

catch1781

the rainbow's end1846

carrot1895

come-on1902

1581 R. Norman (title) The newe attractive, containing a short discourse of the magnet or lodestone.

a1652 J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) vii. vi. 333 That powerful Attractive which by a strong and divine Sympathy draws down the virtue of Heaven into the Souls of men.

1798 Monthly Rev. 26 554 An elevated situation, lofty spires, and the almost incredible quantity of metallic substances which they contain, are certainly strong attractives of the electric fluid.

1854 De Bow's Rev. Feb. 163 When a number of clouds are floating together there is a partial overcoming of each other's attractive powers..until the fluid is received by the still more powerful attractives which the earth affords.

1917 Jrnl. Amer. Pharmaceut. Assoc. 940 We are neglecting the force of physical attraction, or mass affinity, in which apparently inert materials often possess powerful attractives.

†3. A quality that attracts people through arousing approval or pleasurable emotions; esp. a pleasing personal quality; = attraction n. 7a. Chiefly in plural. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive quality or feature

lust1390

jollity1484

allure1534

Venus1540

attract1593

attraction1599

attractive1607

gold dust1690

charm1697

charmingness1727

take1794

charmfulness1842

style1897

appeal1916

pull factor1938

1607 Bp. W. Barlow Brand: Serm. sig. C2 But what is the attractiue, to draw on the flame of Satans enuie?

1615 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. III. ix. 21 All the sweet attractiues of their priuate loue cannot hasten their pase.

1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. F3 He had very fine atractives, as being a good peece of a Scholler.

1706 tr. J. B. Morvan de Bellegarde Refl. upon Ridicule 194 The Women that are caught by these Attractives, must be very silly.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 302. ⁋4 The attractives of her Beauty.

a1805 B. Beddome 20 Disc. (1807) II. 25 The powerful attractives of divine grace.

4. A thing or circumstance that attracts people's attention or interest, or draws people to see it; something that attracts living beings by influencing their behaviour. Cf. attraction n. 7b, attractant n. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive thing

attraction1607

attractive1615

honeypot1618

sale-piece1621

beauty spot1645

eye-catcher1787

good-looker1854

spectacular1874

eye-opener1907

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [noun] > sight or spectacle > that draws crowds

attraction1607

attractive1615

the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > [noun] > subject of interest > designed to attract

attraction1607

attractive1615

stunt1878

clou1883

gimmick1926

stopper1968

1615 H. Parrot Mastiue sig. A4 Who knowes not, Tauernes painted Posts, and Signes, Are but th' attractiues to deceitfull wines?

1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) iii. iii, in Wks. I. 35 And, then, the dressing Is a most mayne attractiue!

1637 J. Elborow Euodias & Syntyche 6 There be no such ensnaring attractives to errors & factions, as women are.

1724 P. Doddridge Let. in Mem. (1766) viii. §4. 225 God has removed so powerful an Attractive from Earth.

1787 Brit. Mercury 16 Apr. 59 The comedy of Seduction makes good its title, and proves an irresistible attractive!

1837 A. Sherwood Gazetteer Georgia (ed. 3) 216 The Schools..were the attractives which drew the people here, to afford their children the advantages proferred.

1953 P. S. Florence Logic Brit. & Amer. Industry vii. 281 There must be incentives to induce willingness to work, ‘attractives’ to induce willingness to move, and conducives to enable persons also both to work and to move.

1994 Chicago Tribune 21 July iii. 2/4 Little cages are baited with sex attractives to lure the dreaded medfly and the equally evil coddling moth into showing their presence.

Compounds

C1. Complementary.

attractive-looking adj.

ΚΠ

1825 H. R. Mosse Father's Love & Woman's Friendship I. v. 170 Julia was by far a more attractive-looking figure.

1890 Pop. Sci. Monthly Aug. 561/1 The historical novels published by W. S. Gottsberger form an attractive-looking department in the library.

1908 Westm. Gaz. 1 July 10/2 They had recently had to refuse offers of attractive-looking business.

1965 Proc. Assoc. Official Seed Analysts 55 52 All fittings are brass which provides an attractive looking, noncorrosive finish.

2012 J. O'Farrell Man who forgot his Wife i. 4 An attractive-looking woman boarded the train and sat diagonally opposite me.

C2.

attractive nuisance n. Law (originally U.S.) a potentially hazardous object or area (such as an unfenced body of water, an abandoned building or vehicle, a piece of machinery, etc.) which may attract children or animals on to a property, thereby constituting a risk to their safety, and a liability for the owner of the land on which they are located; (in extended use) any attractive but dangerous person or thing.

ΚΠ

1894 S. D. Thompson Comm. Law Private Corporations V. cxxix. 4542 There shall not be maintained thereon attractive nuisances, that is to say, substances like scattered salt, tending to attract domestic animals upon the track where they are liable to be run over and killed.

1905 S. D. Thompson Comm. Law Negligence 158 The ‘attractive nuisance’ doctrine was held inapplicable in the case of injuries to children from the following causes:..lumber piles; a railroad track in the open country [etc.].

1934 Titusville (Pa.) Herald 2 June 11/6 Not many clients would appreciate calling their rock gardens, sun dials, bird baths, pergolas and the other what-nots around their home ‘attractive nuisances’.

1977 Pop. Mech. Nov. 140/2 The furnace may constitute an ‘attractive nuisance’, like a swimming pool. Never let it run unattended.

2004 New Yorker 26 Jan. 76/1 He was an observer at best, a bad influence or an attractive nuisance at worst. A stringer-along.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	attractive
释义	attractiveadj.n. Brit. /əˈtraktɪv/, U.S. /əˈtræktɪv/ Forms: Middle English actractiue, Middle English attractif, Middle English attractyff, Middle English–1500s attractyue, Middle English–1700s attractiue, 1500s atractyue, 1500s attractife, 1500s attractyfe, 1500s attractyffe, 1500s– attractive, 1600s atractive, 1600s attrectiue, 1600s attrective; Scottish pre-1700 1700s– attractive. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French attractif; Latin attractivus. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French atractif, attractif, Middle French actractif (French attractif ) absorptive (13th cent. in Old French), that has the property of ‘drawing’ matter or humours (13th cent.), that has the property of drawing to itself by some physical force bodies not materially attached to it (c1270), that has the quality of attracting interest or influencing the behaviour of people, persuasive, seductive (15th cent.), and its etymon (ii) post-classical Latin attractivus that attracts, having the attribute of drawing or sucking in (6th cent.), having the property of ‘drawing’ matter or humours (12th cent.) < classical Latin attract- , past participial stem of attrahere attract v. + -īvus -ive suffix. Compare Old Occitan atractiu (c1350 in virtut atractiva), Catalan atractiu (14th cent.), Spanish atractivo (1410), Portuguese atractivo, (now chiefly Brazilian) atrativo (15th cent. as atractiuo), all earliest in medical or scientific contexts, and Italian attrattivo (a1294 with reference to seductive actions, words, etc.; 14th cent. in medical contexts in sense ‘absorptive’; 15th cent. with reference to pleasant things, e.g. food, beautiful women, etc.).With the uses as noun compare post-classical Latin attractiva attractive power (13th cent. in British sources), attractivum ‘drawing’ medicament (13th cent.), Old French atratif, Middle French atractif, attractif absorptive medicament (c1300 in an apparently isolated attestation in Old French, subsequently from 1478), something that attracts or seduces people (16th cent.; rare), Italian attrattiva quality that attracts people (a1614). A. adj. Having the attribute of attracting; liable or tending to attract something or someone. 1. Designating the ability of a living thing or its parts to take in liquids, nutrients, etc.; having this ability; absorptive. Also figurative. Cf. attract v. 4a. Now historical and rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > absorption or assimilation (of a substance, etc.) > [adjective] attractivea1398 introsumptive1657 absorbent1726 intussusceptive1882 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. iv. iii. 138 By þe vertu attractiue ‘of drawinge’ [L. vi actiua] he [sc. a plant] drawiþ to it norischinge. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 116 (MED) Vertue attractyue [L. virtus attractiva]..is destroyed of labour, ire, anguyssh..as seiþ Rasis. a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 96 (MED) Vche sawle..hauys two stryngthes rennynge togedre yn þe body..oon..is a tokenynge, þe oþer ys wirkand, þat glorious god hauys inlightyd of vij strenghes: of stryngthe attractyue and retractyf, of stryngthe digestyf and purgatyf. 1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Iii^v The sprite selfe shalbe meruailously rauisshed and soked vp by the farre more stronge and attractiue power of the hieghest sprite of all, whiche is God. 1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke iii. xxx. 119 If such egestions come forth without that heauines, you may iudge their strength to be weake, either the attractiue vertue which fetcheth out the cholericke humour from the liuer, or weakenes of the expulsiue vertue, which driueth out to the bowels. 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. ii. v. 31 This attractiue power is very necessary in Plants, which sucke vp moisture by the root. 1713 Countess of Winchilsea Misc. Poems 91 Vapours Which..rise In Clouds to the attractive Brain. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Faculty Others subdivide the Vegetative Faculty into Attractive, Retentive, Concoctive, and Expulsive. 1848 W. Gregory tr. J. Liebig Researches Motion Juices Animal Body 81 From his experiments he [sc. Hales] deduces the presence of a powerful attractive force, residing in every part of the plant. 2009 H. M. Paavilainen Medieval Pharmacotherapy ii. 44 The attractive faculty made it possible for the body to draw to itself the nutrients needed for its preservation. 2. Medicine. Of a medicinal agent or treatment: having the property of drawing to itself venom, humours, other body fluids, etc. Cf. attract v. 1a. Now historical and rare. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > medicine to draw, disperse, etc., matter or humours > [adjective] > drawing drawinga1398 attractivea1400 extractive1599 attractory1641 eductive1657 epispastic1657 attrahent1661 trahent1661 a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 333 (MED) Eueri þing þat is hoot is attractif [L. attractiuum]. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 168 Medicynes attractiuez [L. medicina attractiva]..drawe materies fro noble membres & fro profounde, i.depe, to vnnoble membrez. 1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. xxvi^v For aches & payne in the armes use seare clothes that be attractyue. 1597 J. Tanner Serm. Paules Crosse (new ed.) 46 A sore bitten with a venemous beast, can not be healed, except by an attractiue medicine. 1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 53 Drawing or attractiue playsters. 1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xxvi. x. 1039 An attractive medicine is contrary to the repeller. 1786 Chambers's Cycl. (new ed.) Attractives, or attractive remedies..which are to be externally applied. 1833 Lancet 14 Sept. 775/1 Blisters, and all ‘attractive’ methods, render, besides, this most useful service,—that they can remedy the retrocessions, or prevent the fatal metastases of this disease [sc. erysipelas]. 1997 M. R. McVaugh & M. S. Ogden Inventarium sive Chirurgia Magna II. 107 Following Avicenna, Guy understands mollificatives to have attractive properties. 3. a. Of a force: that attracts certain substances or objects without physical contact between them being necessary. Of an object or substance: having the property of exerting such a force of attraction. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adjective] > drawing towards or attracting attractivec1540 attractical1701 soliciting1704 attracting?1790 c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Cosmogr. xv, in Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. sig. Cv^v Ane maner of electuar..hewit like gold, and sa attractiue of nature, that it drawis stra. 1581 R. Norman Newe Attractiue 5 The Attractiue strength of a small Magnes of two or three pounde weight. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1337 There is not in that voidnesse any puissance attractive [Fr. puissance attractiue] of bodies. 1656 tr. T. Hobbes Elements Philos. iv. xxx. 391 The attractive power of the Loadstone. 1746 Scots Mag. Dec. 577/2 Electrics per se, or originally electrics, I call those bodies in which an attractive power towards light substances is easily excited by friction. 1794 W. Herschel in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 85 46 Sir Isaac Newton has shewn that the sun, by its attractive power, retains the planets of our system in their orbits. 1828 Liverpool Mercury 5 Sept. 288/3 The appearance of comets is particularly interesting as illustrative of the action of the attractive force of the planets. 1861 Thunder & Lightning 5 in Atoms & Electric Forces of Earth He first of all, made a lump of sulphur electrically attractive by rubbing it. 1928 Pop. Mech. May 783/1 Relatively expensive metals..are commonly used to increast the attractive power of magnets. 1978 H. M. Rosenberg Solid State (ed. 2) i. 11 There must be an attractive force between atoms, because otherwise solids would not be formed. 2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 19 May a19/5 On the other hand, the dark energy could decrease and even turn into an attractive force, drawing the universe to an end in a ‘big crunch’. b. figurative and in figurative contexts. ΚΠ 1582 T. Watson Ἑκατομπαθία: Passionate Cent. Loue xxi. sig. C3 Theire beames drawe forth by great attractiue power My moistned hart. 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 105 Heere's a mettle more attractiue. a1750 A. Hill Wks. (1753) III. 281 Silver mines; Whose wealth, attractive, draws, from lovelier lands, Advent'rous thousands, to those barren strands! 1840 H. H. Milman Poet. Wks. II. viii. 196 Virtue holds The like attractive influence, draws around Souls light and earthly-tainted, till they catch The fair contagion of her beauty. 1846 Andrewes's Pattern Catechistical Doctr. & Other Minor Wks. (new ed.) 109 Then seeing magnes amoris est amor, ‘love is the lode-stone attractive of love’. 1990 A. Aronowicz tr. E. Levinas Nine Talmudic Readings 33 The temptation of temptation is not the attractive pull exerted by this or that pleasure. 4. That attracts attention, interest, or affection; that arouses sexual or romantic feelings.Now the most common sense. a. Having the quality of attracting attention, interest, affection, or other pleasurable emotion; interesting, engaging, pleasing. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective] gracious1340 glorious skinnyc1400 drawing1435 gracefulc1449 attrayant1477 well-favoured1539 alluring1567 graceda1586 attracting1589 attractive1592 winning1596 appealing1598 taking1603 allicient1613 enchantinga1616 motive1615 temptinga1616 allurant1631 catchinga1640 gaining1642 canny1643 charmful1656 charming1664 mignon1671 disarminga1718 prepossessing1737 seducing1749 seductive176. eye-catching1770 sweet1779 catchy1784 attaching1785 engaging1816 cute1834 cunning1843 taky1854 cynosural1855 smart1860 fetching1880 seductious1883 fruity1900 barry1923 hot stuff1928 swoony1934 dishy1961 dolly1964 jiggy1996 aegyo2007 1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 83 Framing violent and attractiue wordes [It. cum uiolente & atractiue carolette], she gaue me assurance. 1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 389 By his attractiue vertues..confirmed to him the hearts of all his subiects. 1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman Table sig. † Decency, the attractivest motive of affection. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 298 For contemplation hee and valour formd, For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace. View more context for this quotation 1726 J. Dennis Stage Defended 23 Is this Pamplet..writ in the attractive Language of Charity? 1781 S. Johnson Pope in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets VII. 293 The Rape of the Lock..is universally allowed to be the most attractive of all ludicrous compositions. 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. i. 14 Interesting and attractive for those who live to hear an old man's stories of a past age. 1859 Sat. Rev. 23 July 103 It tells it in a style almost as attractive as a novel. 1890 L. B. Robinson Bundle of Lett. from over Sea iv. 88 We took an early drive through the always attractive streets and parks of Paris. 1923 C. Mackenzie Seven Ages of Woman iii. 112 My dear, innocence is a charming and attractive quality; but do not be too ingénue. 1958 Life 14 Apr. 19/2 There was no better single tonic for the economy than relentless advertising..of attractive goods at attractive prices. 1988 G. Greene Captain & Enemy viii. 133 I continued..visiting her once a week—if nothing more attractive presented itself. 2007 Flora Internat. July 2 The wild Clematis..is attractive when in flower. b. spec. Of a person: pleasing to look at; arousing sexual or romantic feelings. ΚΠ a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. v. 4 He accus'd his Confidents of stupidity, or envy, for describing the faire French Lady far lesse attractive then hee found her. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. viii. 307 Young, rich, and attractive, the world at your feet. 1815 Sporting Mag. 45 79 She was..too personable and attractive a nymph to be without a swain. 1846 F. M. Trollope Attractive Man I. v. 110 This lady..had once been a celebrated beauty, and..was still very attractive. 1878 ‘Ouida’ Friendship I. 85 ‘Do you think her attractive?’ ‘No, not at all.’ 1902 W. Cather Treasure of Far Island i, in New Eng. Mag. Oct. 237/1 Wait till you've seen them at rehearsals in soiled shirtwaists... Poor things! They have to work too hard to bother about being attractive. 1934 J. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra iv. 102 It was..understood by every hostess that a popular, attractive young man should not be designated the escort of any but popular, attractive girls. 1967 S. Attanasio tr. H. Hohendorf Life & Times of Goethe 44 Christiane was a short, attractive brunette, with a pristine mouth and round cheeks. 2001 K. Izzo & C. Marsh Fabulous Girl's Guide to Decorum (2002) 213 Casual sex with an attractive and sympathetic man will do wonders for your ego. 5. Having the quality of attracting living beings by influencing their behaviour.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense A. 4a. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [adjective] tolling?c1225 ticinga1400 allectivec1487 illecebrous1531 alluring1534 tracting1535 wooing1549 enticing1553 training1557 tittling1560 luring1570 adamantine1581 baiting1585 winning1596 attractive1600 adamantic1605 adamantive1605 enticeable1607 soliciting1608 magnetic1611 invitinga1616 allurant1631 inescating1633 invitative1634 magnetical1638 invitatory1646 tractive1658 odalisque1837 Pied Piper1869 lureful1887 follow-me1888 luresome1889 come-hitherish1901 come-hither1905 come-hithery1919 invitational1922 come-hithering1935 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. ii. 97 She hath blessed, and attractiue eyes. View more context for this quotation 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. Ep. to Vespas. Although your gentlenesse and humanitie be one way attrective, and induceth me to draw neare unto your presence. 1730 J. Southall Treat. Buggs 32 My Liquor has an attractive as well as the destructive Quality, and thereby does bring out and destroy every live Bugg. 1862 J. S. Mill Utilitarianism 60 The repelling influence of pain as well as the attractive one of pleasure. 1882 Entomologist Feb. 43 I do not know whether any real reason is assigned why ivy blossom should be so fatally attractive to moths. 1927 Sci. Monthly Dec. 501/2 The so-called mosquito repellents..are effective merely because they change or disguise the attractive odors from the human skin. 1977 Jrnl. Parasitology 63 847/2 The effects may be mediated..by the females being stimulated to diminish or increase their attractive pheromone secretion. 2013 Evening Standard (Nexis) 11 Feb. 11 Animal welfare organisations had been advising residents on making homes and gardens less attractive to foxes. †6. Capable of gripping or holding a substance to itself. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adjective] > drawing towards or attracting > by contact attractive1607 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 104 The tongue of a cat is very attractiue, and forcible like a file, attenuating by licking the flesh of a man. B. n. †1. Medicine. A medicinal agent or treatment that draws to itself venom, humours, other body fluids, etc. Cf. attract v. 1a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > medicine to draw, disperse, etc., matter or humours > [noun] > drawing medicine attractivea1400 attrahent1786 derivative1843 a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 60 Leie aboue þe wounde actractiuis [L. res attractiuas], to drawe out þe venym. c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 147 (MED) Malancolious blood is drawen wiþ attractiuis vn to þe ers for to procuren þe emerowdis for to preseruen þe pacient fro woodnesse. 1543 B. Traheron tr. J. de Vigo Most Excellent Wks. Chirurg. ii. iii. f. lix/2 In the begynnynge we vse not the intentions prescrybed in the cure of flegmon, but contrary wyse we vse attractyues, and resolutiues. 1592 N. Gyer Eng. Phlebotomy xxvii. 278 It [sc. cupping] is cæteris attractiuis fortius: stronger than any other attractiues: thus in harde apostumations, it draweth the matter outward. 1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 40 The safest way..to cure the poyson, is by attractiues. 1686 G. Harvey Conclave of Physicians (ed. 2) ii. x. 114 A potent Attractive of some dry resiny Powder, one degree above Saw-dust, was applied to the Soals of her Feet. 1739 J. Keogh Zoologia Medicinalis Hibernica 127 If the poison be immediately wash'd off, and drawn forth by attractives, there will be good hopes of cure. 1797 Encycl. Brit. X. 645/2 If astringent medicines..insensibly expel any stagnating matter from the parts where it is contained, they are then called discutients; and..stimulants, or attractives, if they bring a greater flux of humours to the part to which they are applied. †2. That which attracts (attract v. 1b) something to itself, through the action of gravitational, electrical, magnetic, or intermolecular forces, or chemical affinity. Also figurative. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [noun] > drawing towards itself or attraction > that which attractive1581 attracter1606 attractor1646 allicient1658 attrahent1661 attractant1814 the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > one who or that which > that which lurec1385 baitc1400 traina1425 allective1445 allurement1548 lodestone?1577 attractive1581 invites1615 magnetic1645 magnet1655 invitatory1666 track1672 glittering prize1713 catch1781 the rainbow's end1846 carrot1895 come-on1902 1581 R. Norman (title) The newe attractive, containing a short discourse of the magnet or lodestone. a1652 J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) vii. vi. 333 That powerful Attractive which by a strong and divine Sympathy draws down the virtue of Heaven into the Souls of men. 1798 Monthly Rev. 26 554 An elevated situation, lofty spires, and the almost incredible quantity of metallic substances which they contain, are certainly strong attractives of the electric fluid. 1854 De Bow's Rev. Feb. 163 When a number of clouds are floating together there is a partial overcoming of each other's attractive powers..until the fluid is received by the still more powerful attractives which the earth affords. 1917 Jrnl. Amer. Pharmaceut. Assoc. 940 We are neglecting the force of physical attraction, or mass affinity, in which apparently inert materials often possess powerful attractives. †3. A quality that attracts people through arousing approval or pleasurable emotions; esp. a pleasing personal quality; = attraction n. 7a. Chiefly in plural. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive quality or feature lust1390 jollity1484 allure1534 Venus1540 attract1593 attraction1599 attractive1607 gold dust1690 charm1697 charmingness1727 take1794 charmfulness1842 style1897 appeal1916 pull factor1938 1607 Bp. W. Barlow Brand: Serm. sig. C2 But what is the attractiue, to draw on the flame of Satans enuie? 1615 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. III. ix. 21 All the sweet attractiues of their priuate loue cannot hasten their pase. 1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. F3 He had very fine atractives, as being a good peece of a Scholler. 1706 tr. J. B. Morvan de Bellegarde Refl. upon Ridicule 194 The Women that are caught by these Attractives, must be very silly. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 302. ⁋4 The attractives of her Beauty. a1805 B. Beddome 20 Disc. (1807) II. 25 The powerful attractives of divine grace. 4. A thing or circumstance that attracts people's attention or interest, or draws people to see it; something that attracts living beings by influencing their behaviour. Cf. attraction n. 7b, attractant n. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive thing attraction1607 attractive1615 honeypot1618 sale-piece1621 beauty spot1645 eye-catcher1787 good-looker1854 spectacular1874 eye-opener1907 the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [noun] > sight or spectacle > that draws crowds attraction1607 attractive1615 the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > [noun] > subject of interest > designed to attract attraction1607 attractive1615 stunt1878 clou1883 gimmick1926 stopper1968 1615 H. Parrot Mastiue sig. A4 Who knowes not, Tauernes painted Posts, and Signes, Are but th' attractiues to deceitfull wines? 1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) iii. iii, in Wks. I. 35 And, then, the dressing Is a most mayne attractiue! 1637 J. Elborow Euodias & Syntyche 6 There be no such ensnaring attractives to errors & factions, as women are. 1724 P. Doddridge Let. in Mem. (1766) viii. §4. 225 God has removed so powerful an Attractive from Earth. 1787 Brit. Mercury 16 Apr. 59 The comedy of Seduction makes good its title, and proves an irresistible attractive! 1837 A. Sherwood Gazetteer Georgia (ed. 3) 216 The Schools..were the attractives which drew the people here, to afford their children the advantages proferred. 1953 P. S. Florence Logic Brit. & Amer. Industry vii. 281 There must be incentives to induce willingness to work, ‘attractives’ to induce willingness to move, and conducives to enable persons also both to work and to move. 1994 Chicago Tribune 21 July iii. 2/4 Little cages are baited with sex attractives to lure the dreaded medfly and the equally evil coddling moth into showing their presence. Compounds C1. Complementary. attractive-looking adj. ΚΠ 1825 H. R. Mosse Father's Love & Woman's Friendship I. v. 170 Julia was by far a more attractive-looking figure. 1890 Pop. Sci. Monthly Aug. 561/1 The historical novels published by W. S. Gottsberger form an attractive-looking department in the library. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 1 July 10/2 They had recently had to refuse offers of attractive-looking business. 1965 Proc. Assoc. Official Seed Analysts 55 52 All fittings are brass which provides an attractive looking, noncorrosive finish. 2012 J. O'Farrell Man who forgot his Wife i. 4 An attractive-looking woman boarded the train and sat diagonally opposite me. C2. attractive nuisance n. Law (originally U.S.) a potentially hazardous object or area (such as an unfenced body of water, an abandoned building or vehicle, a piece of machinery, etc.) which may attract children or animals on to a property, thereby constituting a risk to their safety, and a liability for the owner of the land on which they are located; (in extended use) any attractive but dangerous person or thing. ΚΠ 1894 S. D. Thompson Comm. Law Private Corporations V. cxxix. 4542 There shall not be maintained thereon attractive nuisances, that is to say, substances like scattered salt, tending to attract domestic animals upon the track where they are liable to be run over and killed. 1905 S. D. Thompson Comm. Law Negligence 158 The ‘attractive nuisance’ doctrine was held inapplicable in the case of injuries to children from the following causes:..lumber piles; a railroad track in the open country [etc.]. 1934 Titusville (Pa.) Herald 2 June 11/6 Not many clients would appreciate calling their rock gardens, sun dials, bird baths, pergolas and the other what-nots around their home ‘attractive nuisances’. 1977 Pop. Mech. Nov. 140/2 The furnace may constitute an ‘attractive nuisance’, like a swimming pool. Never let it run unattended. 2004 New Yorker 26 Jan. 76/1 He was an observer at best, a bad influence or an attractive nuisance at worst. A stringer-along. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.n.a1398
随便看	percursory percuss percussant percussed percusses percussing percussion percussion arm percussion blow percussion bomb percussion bullet percussion cap percussion drill percussion dullness percussion figure percussion fuse percussion grinder percussion gun percussion gun-lock percussion gunlock percussion hammer percussion instrument percussion lock percussion massage percussion match