excursive, a.
(ɛkˈskɜːsɪv)
[f. L. excurs- ppl. stem of excurrĕre (see excur) + -ive; very common in 18th c.]
1. a. Of the nature of an excursion; consisting of excursions or sallies (obs. in literal sense). b. Of reading, etc.: Desultory; varied in direction.
| 1673 Ray Journ. Low C., Montpellier 463 From Montpellier we made an excursive voyage into Provence. 1749 Power Pros. Numbers 54 Excursive Flights..natural to those who have dealt much in Verse. 1799 S. Turner Anglo-Sax. I. iv. viii. 321 They made excursive ravages over the adjacent country. 1816 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. xxiii. (1828) II. 352 Then resumes its gay excursive flights. 1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 60 We are wandering..into excursive speculations. 1848 Southey Comm.-pl. Bk. Ser. i. (1850), Johnson's excursive reading. |
2. a. That makes excursions or sallies in various directions; capable of, or addicted to, varied flights; having a wide range of pursuits or interests. b. Apt to diverge from a definite course; prone to stray, erratic; digressive.
| 1744 Thomson Spring 953 Your eye excursive roams. 1774 Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry lxiii. (1840) III. 425 The first [book of Hall's Satires] is miscellaneous and excursive. 1779–81 Johnson L.P., Pope Wks. IV. 103 An intelligence perpetually on the wing, excursive, vigorous, and diligent. 1816 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. xxxv. (1828) III. 644 The order to which the excursive butterfly belongs is the Lepidoptera. 1823 Rutter Fonthill 81 That brilliant and excursive genius which created the design. 1825 Scott Betrothed Introd., Keeping in the straight road his excursive black cattle. 1838–9 Hallam Hist. Lit. III. iii. iii. §127. 110 Bacon was sometimes too excursive to sift particulars. 1868 Helps Realmah ix. (1876) 256 Do keep to the point, my excursive friends. |