expositive, a. and n.
(ɛkˈspɒzɪtɪv)
[ad. L. expositīv-us, f. exposit- ppl. stem of expōnĕre: see expone and -ive.]
A. adj. a. Tending to set forth or describe in detail; descriptive. b. Serving to explain; explanatory, expository. Const. of.
| 1535 Joye Apol. Tindale 38 Usyng thys particle Et in englyssh as myche to saye And expositiue. 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxiv. 4 A man may gather it by the percell expositiue whiche is added streight after. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 378/2 Expositive terms. 1659 Pearson Creed (1683) 230 The opinion..is to be rejected, as not expositive of the Creed's confession. 1846 Worcester, Expositive, explanatory. 1884 Christian World 24 Apr. 304/2 The book..may be briefly described as..hortatory and expositive. |
† B. n. An explanation, ‘argument’. Obs.
| 1687 Burnet Contn. Reply to Varillas 43 He cites on the Margin the expositive or Preamble of it. |
Hence † exˈpositively adv., in an expositive manner or sense; by way of exposition or gloss.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxxiv. 9 The particle [Chi] is taken expositiuely. 1631 J. Burges Answ. Rejoined 82 Unless wee may take..and, the copulatiue, expositiuely, as if it signified that is to say. 1656 Jeanes Fuln. Christ 170 Interpreters thinke this clause to be added appositivè, or expositively, to explaine what is meant by Philosophy. |