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English
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 ”). Equivalent to minorate (“diminish”, “lessen”) + -ive. Compare the post-Classical (i.e. 9th C.) Latin minōrātīvus.
Pronunciation
Adjective
minorative (not comparable)
- That diminishes or attenuates
- (obsolete, of a medicine) Gently laxative.
- 1543, Bartholomew Traheron (translator), Joannes de Vigo (author), The Most Excellent Workes of Chirurgerye, book IX, addendum, page 225:
- Clysters sometymes do supplye the rowme of minoratyve medicines.
- 1747, Jean Astruc (author; translator unknown), Academical Lectures on Fevers, page 112:
- Nothing but minorative apozems should be ordered.
Translations
of a medicine: gently laxative
Noun
minorative (plural minoratives)
- (obsolete) A gently laxative medicine.
- 1633, James Hart, Κλινική; or, The Diet of the Diseased, book III, chapter xiv, page 284:
- When wee feare lest nature faint before perfect concoction, we may sometimes use a gentle minorative.
- 1747, Jean Astruc (author; translator unknown), Academical Lectures on Fevers, page 232:
- Others give minoratives more frequently.
Translations
References
- NED VI (L–N; 1st ed., 1908), part ii (M–N), § 1 (M), page 478/3, “†Mi·norative, a. and sb.”
- OED (2nd ed., 1989), “†ˈminorative, a. and n.”
- OED (3rd ed., March 2002), “†minorative, adj. and n.”
French
Adjective
minorative
- feminine singular of minoratif
Middle French
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
minorative f (plural minoratives)
- laxative