[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

abortive \abor"tive\, a. l. abortivus, fr. aboriri. see
   abort, v.
   1. produced by abortion.as, an abortive child. r.
      1913 webster + as

   2. made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive
      vellum. obs.
      1913 webster

   3. rendering fruitless or ineffectual. obs. "plunged in
      that abortive gulf." --milton.
      1913 webster

   4. coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying;
      fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. "an
      abortive enterprise." --prescott.
      1913 webster

   5. biol. imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary;
      sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc. as
      1913 webster

   6. med.
      a causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. --parr. as
      b cutting short the period of an illness; as, abortive
          treatment of typhoid fever.
          1913 webster + as
see also:
abort 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

abortive \abor"tive\, n.
   1. that which is born or brought forth prematurely; an
      abortion. obs. --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. a fruitless effort or issue. obs.
      1913 webster

   3. med. a medicine to which is attributed the property of
      causing abortion; -- also called an abortifacient.
      --dunglison.
      1913 webster +pjc
see also:
abortifacient 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

abortive
     adj : failing to accomplish an intended result; "an abortive
           revolt"; "a stillborn plot to assassinate the
           president" syn: stillborn, unsuccessful
see also:
stillborn unsuccessful 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

37 moby thesaurus words for "abortive":
   barren, bootless, failed, failing, fruitless, futile, gainless,
   immature, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, lame, manque,
   miscarried, miscarrying, nonremunerative, of no effect, otiose,
   profitless, rewardless, sterile, stickit, stillborn, successless,
   unavailable, unavailing, unformed, unfortunate, unmatured,
   unproductive, unprofitable, unremunerative, unrewarding, unripe,
   unsuccessful, useless, vain

Abortive >> A Words
Abortive, definition of term: Abortive
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