Etymology PIE word *h₁én The adjective is derived from Middle English invasif (“of a weapon: offensive”), from Middle French invasif, Old French invasif (“invasive”) (modern French invasif), from Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from Latin invāsus (“entered; invaded”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Invāsus is the perfect passive participle of invādō (“to enter; to invade”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’) + vādō (“to go; to rush; to walk”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂dʰ- (“to go, proceed; to pass, traverse”)). The noun is derived from the adjective.
The Spanyards called their invaſive fleete againſt England the Navie Invincible, yet it was overcome.1592, Tho[mas] Nashe, “The Arrainment and Execution of the Third Letter”, in Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters and a Convoy of Verses, […], London: […] Iohn Danter, […], →OCLC; republished in J[ohn] Payne Collier, editor, Illustrations of Early English Literature (Miscellaneous Tracts; Temp. Eliz. and Jac. I), volume II, London: Privately printed, [1867], →OCLC, page 52:
Oh inglorious league: / Shall we vpon the footing of our land, / Send fayre-play-orders, and make comprimiſe, / Inſinuation, parley, and baſe truce / To Armes Inuaſiue?c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
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[…] The Parliaments Forces, neither would, nor lawfully might in point of Law or Conſcience forcibly reſiſt or repulſe their invaſive Armes, without danger or High Treaſon and Rebellion, […]1643, William Prynne, “[The Third Part of the Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes.] To the Reader”, in The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes: […], London: […] Michael Sparke Senior, →OCLC:
[T]he Sheriffe, or any of his Officers, for the better execution of Juſtice, may carry handguns or other weapons invaſive or defenſive, […]1650, Edward Coke, “St. Johns Case. 34. El. Banco Regis. fol. 71.”, in Thomas Ireland, compiler, An Exact Abridgment in English, of the Eleven Books of Reports of the Learned Sir Edward Coke, […], London: […] M. Simmons, for Matthew Walbancke, […], and H. Twyford […], →OCLC, book V, page 209:
He managed to get back Lorraine; made truce with the Hungarians, who were excessively invasive at that time. Truce with the Hungarians; and then, having gathered strength, made dreadful beating of them; two beatings,—one to each half, for the invasive Savagery had split itself, for better chance of plunder; […]1858, Thomas Carlyle, “Brannibor: Henry the Fowler”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book II, page 70:
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Broadly Intrusive on one's privacy, rights, sphere of activity, etc.
It's wrong of me to ask such an invasive question when I keep so many secrets hidden from you.2008 October, Leanne Smith, chapter 21, in Silent Mysteries: Discover the Mystery of Kara …, Chepachet, R.I.: Leanne Elise Smith, →ISBN, page 396:
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Broadly Originating externally.
All invasive moral states and passionate enthusiasms make one feelingless to evil in some direction.1902, William James, “Lectures IV and V: The Religion of Healthy-mindedness”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 90:
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Biology, Natural sciencesBroadly Of an organism: that grows (especially uncontrollably) in environments which do not harbour natural enemies, often to the detriment of native species or of food or garden flora and fauna.
an invasive species
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Medicine, Sciences, SurgeryBroadly Of a procedure: involving the entry of an instrument into part of the body.
The natural evolution of minimally invasive surgery has taken the surgeon to new heights and has extended the breadth of laparoscopic surgery to include procedures of the colon.1995, Constantine T. Frantzides, Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery, St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby, →ISBN, page 135:
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Medicine, Pathology, SciencesBroadly Of a carcinoma or other abnormal growth: that invades healthy tissue, especially rapidly.
Two patients developed cancer in the upper urinary tract, and 3 eventually developed invasive cancer.1982, William W. Bonney, George R. Prout, Jr., editors, Bladder Cancer: American Urological Association Seminar on Bladder Cancer, Chicago, Illinois, April 1980 (AUA Monographs; 1), Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins, →ISBN, page 162:
Etymology PIE word *h₁én The adjective is derived from Middle English invasif (“of a weapon: offensive”), from Middle French invasif, Old French invasif (“invasive”) (modern French invasif), from Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from Latin invāsus (“entered; invaded”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Invāsus is the perfect passive participle of invādō (“to enter; to invade”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’) + vādō (“to go; to rush; to walk”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂dʰ- (“to go, proceed; to pass, traverse”)). The noun is derived from the adjective.
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Biology, Natural sciences An invasive organism, such as an animal or plant.
Is there ever a time to plant invasives—plants that are known to spread—in the garden? I believe the answer is a qualified "yes." There is never a time to plant exotic, that is non-native, invasives. Exotic invasives such as pampas grass and French and Scottish broom were sold by local nurseries in the past, before their destructive nature was understood. […] Native invasive plants are another story: there are situations in which they can be both practical and desirable.2005, Barbara J. Euser, “A Place for Invasives?”, in Barbara J. Euser, editor, Bay Area Gardening: 64 Practical Essays by Master Gardeners, Palo Alto, Calif.: Solas House, Travelers’ Tales, →ISBN, page 174: