ABORTIVE

ABOR'TIVE, adjective 1. Brought forth in an immature state; failing, or coming to naught, before it is complete.2. Failing in its effect; miscarrying; producing nothing; as an abortive scheme.3. Rendering abortive; as abortive gulf, in Milton, but not legitimate.4. Pertaining to abortion; as abortive vellum, made of the skin of an abortive calf.5. In botany, an abortive flower is one which falls without producing fruit.ABOR'TIVE, noun That which is brought forth or born prematurely. [Little used.]

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abortive. Abortive, a. untimely, unsuccessful; n. a vellum

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A‐bor″tive (�), a. [[L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See Abort, v.]] 1. 1. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child.
2. 2. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum.
3. 3. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. “Plunged in that abortive gulf.” Milton.
4. 4. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. “An abortive enterprise.” Prescott.
5. 5. (Biol.) Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.
6. 6. (Med.) (a) Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. Parr. (b) Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.