abortive Hear it!

abortive definition

abor·tive (ə bôrt′iv)

adjective

  1. coming to nothing; unsuccessful; fruitless
  2. Biol. arrested in development; rudimentary
  3. Med.
    1. causing abortion
    2. halting a disease process
  4. Obsolete born prematurely

Etymology: ME abortif < L abortivus: see abort

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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