consumptive Hear it!

consumptive Definition

con·sump·tive (kən sump′tiv)

adjective

  1. consuming or tending to consume; destructive or wasteful
  2. of, having, or relating to tuberculosis of the lungs

Etymology: ME consumpt < L consumptus (see consumption) + -ive

noun

a person who has tuberculosis of the lungs

Related Forms:

consumptive Synonyms

consumptive

modif.

destructive, immoderate, devastating; see harmful, wasteful.

consumptive Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • lifestyle: We are not all called to emulate his extreme asceticism, but his simplicity does challenge our greedy and consumptive lifestyle.
  • starveling: But can a consumptive starveling hold a true theory?
  • cough: Around 1700, Saffron was used to help consumptive coughs.
  • culture: And then the idealistic fantasy oriented consumptive culture feeds the sin of discontent.