▪ I. conversive, a.1
(kənˈvɜːsɪv)
[a. F. conversif, -ive, in med.L. conversīvus, f. convers- ppl. stem of convertĕre to convert: see -ive.]
† 1. = converse a.2 Obs. rare.
| 1636 Featly Clavis Myst. lvi. 774 In the conversive proposition..I admit, etc. |
2. Having the power or function of conversion.
| a 1655 Vines Lord's Supp. (1677) 90 Those operative and conversive words. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles ii. iv. 14 Impletive of althings and conversive of althings into itself. |
b. Heb. Gram. In Vau conversive, a term applied to the conjunction {vavpath} va (wa) ‘and’, when employed to give to the future (or imperfect) tense, following a past (or perfect) expressed or understood, the force of the latter tense.
| 1751 Wesley Wks. (1872) XIV. 154 The conversive particle ו, with a Patha..turns the Future into a Perfect. 1819 G. S. Faber Dispens. (1823) II. 88 Neither of the verbs has the conversive Vau prefixed. 1844 Gesenius' Heb. Lex. 274 When whole sections or books begin with Vav conversive..this denotes that they are connected with an earlier narrative. |
3. ‘Capable of being converted or changed’ (Webster 1864).
Hence † conversively adv. = conversely.
| 1607 R. Wilkinson Merchant Royall 33 We may say, conuersiuely..that the wisdome of Salomon, etc. 1634 ‘E. Knott’ in Chillingw. Relig. Prot. i. v. Wks. (1742) 236 Every Heretique is a Schismatique, but not conversively every Schismatique is an Heretique. |
▪ II. † conˈversive, a.2 Obs.
[f. converse v. + -ive.]
= conversative.
| 1627–77 Feltham Resolves ii. lxxv. 318 Deficient in the conversive quality of Man. 1678 Yng. Man's Call. 57 Conversive with others, useful to many. |