expulsive, a. and n.
(ɛkˈspʌlsɪv)
Also 4 expulsif, 5 -syfe, 6 -cive.
[a. F. expulsif, -ive, ad. med.L. expulsīv-us, f. expellĕre to expel: see expulse and -ive.]
A. adj.
1. Tending or having the power to expel. Chiefly with reference to the action of drugs and medical appliances for the expulsion of morbid influences or deleterious substances from the system. Very frequent in phr. † expulsive faculty, expulsive virtue.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1891 The vertu expulsif..Ne may the venym voyde, ne expelle. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. iii. in Ashm. (1652) 141 Of poysons most expulsyfe. 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg., Other maner of byndynge is called expulsiue..to expell and put out the mater from the botome. 1547 Boorde Brev. Health Pref. 4 Chierurgyons must knowe..what sygnes [of the moon] be expulcive. 1658 A. Fox tr. Wurtz' Surg. ii. viii. 70 An expulsive vulnerary potion. 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies i. ix. 30 Cold is..Expulsive of its Contrary. 1758 J. S. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 52 In the Application of expulsive Compresses. 1803 J. Kenny Society 29 Duties congenial to thy gentle heart Her lessons teach, expulsive of despair. 1885 Manch. Exam. 26 Oct. 5/2 The enormous expulsive force of the steam in its endeavour to escape. |
† 2. Subject to expulsion; hence, driven out. rare.
| 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. viii, Her goodly fygure I graved in my thought; Except her selfe all were expulcyfe. |
† 3. Tending to repel; = repellent. Obs.
| 1618 Chapman Hesiod ii. 225 Even ox-hides also want expulsive stuff. 1662 R. Mathew Unl. Alch. §24 This little World hangeth upon the two Poles, Attractive and Expulsive. |
† B. n. An expulsive drug. Obs.
| 1576 Baker Jewell of Health 235 b, The lyke neyther in the laxatives, purgatives, and expulsives is to be found. |
Hence exˈpulsiveness.
| 1727 in Bailey vol. II. |