a. [f. L. cohæs- (see COHESIBLE) + -IVE.] Having the property of cohering; characterized by cohesion.

1

1727–31.  [see COHESIVENESS].

2

1755.  in Johnson.

3

1799.  J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 205. Tracts of the finest cohesive soil.

4

1813.  Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., i. (1814), 6. Dung which has fermented so as to become a mere soft cohesive mass.

5

1845.  Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 489. To show how little cohesive force the league possessed.

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1850.  Daubeny, Atom. The., x. (ed. 2), 314. By cohesive attraction … we mean that force which binds together the particles of a body.

7

  Hence Cohesively adv., Cohesiveness.

8

1818.  Todd, Cohesively, in a connected or dependent manner. [Hence in later Dicts.]

9

1727–31.  Bailey, vol. II. Cohesiveness, cohesive quality.

10

1755.  in Johnson.

11

1765.  Goldsm., Ess. (L.). The style loses its cohesiveness.

12

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 210/1. A felted web, to which cohesiveness is given by compressing.

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