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minorative

adj, noun — 3 senses

minorative

adj

UK /ˈmaɪnəɹeɪtɪv/

Etymology From the late-Middle French minoratif, minorative (“that diminishes or lessens”, of a medicine “mildly laxative”; as a noun “a mild laxative”), from minorer (“to diminish the importance [of]”). Equivalent to minorate (“diminish”, “lessen”) + -ive. Compare the post-Classical (i.e. 9th C.) Latin minōrātīvus.

1

That diminishes or attenuates

2

Obsolete, Of a medicine Gently laxative.

  • Clysters sometymes do supplye the rowme of minoratyve medicines.1543, Bartholomew Traheron (translator), Joannes de Vigo (author), The Most Excellent Workes of Chirurgerye, book IX, addendum, page 225
  • Nothing but minorative apozems should be ordered.1747, Jean Astruc (author; translator unknown), Academical Lectures on Fevers, page 112

minorative

noun

Etymology From the late-Middle French minoratif, minorative (“that diminishes or lessens”, of a medicine “mildly laxative”; as a noun “a mild laxative”), from minorer (“to diminish the importance [of]”). Equivalent to minorate (“diminish”, “lessen”) + -ive. Compare the post-Classical (i.e. 9th C.) Latin minōrātīvus.

1

Obsolete A gently laxative medicine.

  • When […] wee feare lest nature faint before perfect concoction, we may sometimes use a gentle minorative.1633, James Hart, Κλινική; or, The Diet of the Diseased, book III, chapter xiv, page 284
  • Others give minoratives more frequently.1747, Jean Astruc (author; translator unknown), Academical Lectures on Fevers, page 232
Related terms
minorand, minorate, minoration

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.