consumptive

[ kuh n-suhmp-tiv ]

/ kənˈsʌmp tɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR consumptive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to consume; destructive; wasteful.

pertaining to consumption by use.

Pathology.

pertaining to or of the nature of consumption.
disposed to or affected with consumption.

noun

Older Use. a person who suffers from tuberculosis.

Nearby words

consumption, consumption coagulopathy, consumption goods, consumption tax, consumption weed, consumptive, cont., cont. rem., contact, contact allergy, contact binary

Origin of consumptive

1375–1425; Middle English: eliminating morbid humors < Medieval Latin consūmptīvus wasteful, destructive; see consumption, -ive

Related forms

con·sump·tive·ly, adverbcon·sump·tive·ness, nounnon·con·sump·tive, adjectivenon·con·sump·tive·ly, adverb

non·con·sump·tive·ness, nounun·con·sump·tive, adjectiveun·con·sump·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for consumptive

Watching it in public, on the other hand, exposes these films as just another method of molding of our consumptive urges.
The New Fashion Porn|Renata Espinosa|December 18, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Under such conditions, when a consumptive coughs, who is safe?
Charities and the Commons: The Pittsburgh Survey, Part II: The Place|Various
The old Flemish joyousness of colour passed into a consumptive cacophony.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 1 (of 4)|Richard Muther
Whence the pulse of a consumptive patient becomes stronger and consequently slower.
Zoonomia, Vol. II|Erasmus Darwin

The consumptive bends over his work, fearfully eyeing the keeper's measuring stick.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
She told of Fritz Redlich first—because that had been the greater love—and then of the poor, consumptive teacher.
The Song of Songs|Hermann Sudermann

British Dictionary definitions for consumptive

consumptive

/ (kənˈsʌmptɪv) /

adjective

causing consumption; wasteful; destructive

pathol relating to or affected with consumption, esp tuberculosis of the lungs

noun

pathol a person who suffers from consumption

Derived Forms

consumptively, adverbconsumptiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

consumptive

adjective

noun

Nearby words

Origin of consumptive

Related forms

Examples from the Web for consumptive

British Dictionary definitions for consumptive

consumptive

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Medicine definitions for consumptive

consumptive

adj.