abstersive

[ab-stur-siv]

adjective

1. abstergent.

Other Word Forms

• abstersiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abstersive¹

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin abstersīvus, equivalent to Latin absters ( us ), past participle of abstergēre ( abstergent ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

The strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate.

From Project Gutenberg

The quality of being abstersive.

From Project Gutenberg

They used it first, as Pownall the local historian tells you, "as a vulnerary and abstersive," and healed wounds with it; then some labourers accidentally drank it, and Epsom's fortune was made.

From Project Gutenberg

All the parts of this tree are abstersive, and therefore sovereign for the consolidating wounds; and asswage the pains of the gout: But the bark decocted in common water, to almost the consistence of a syrup, adding a third part of aqua vitæ, is a most admirable remedy for the ischiadicæ or hip-pain, the place being well rubb’d and chaf’d by the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

A tablet stood of that abstersive tree,   Where Aethiop's swarthy bird did build her nest; Inlaid it was with Libyan ivory,   Drawn from the jaws of Afric's prudent beast.

From Project Gutenberg