a. [ad. late L. conclūsīv-us, f. conclūs- ppl. stem of conclūdĕre: see CONCLUDE, and -IVE. Cf. F. conclusif, -ive.]
† 1. Summing up, summary. Obs.
1590. Greene, Neuer too late (1600), 9. ‘So women are vniuersally mala necessaria, wheresoeuer they be eyther bred or brought vp.’ With this conclusiue period hee breathed him.
2. Concluding, closing; occurring at or forming the end. (Now rare.)
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 367. The Epilogue, or Conclusive part of this Treatise.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), V. 177. The following short billet; inscriptive and conclusive parts of it in her own words.
1815. Scribbleomania, 77. The judgment … delivered in the conclusive line.
b. Final, definitive.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iv. 357. A conclusive revolt from Rome.
3. Of an argument, statement, etc.: That closes or decides the question; decisive, convincing.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., II. v. 151. If a man will … cleare himselfe by an Oath … he may be … heard, but this may neither be pressed to be done, nor yet conclusive, when it is done.
1690. Locke, Toleration, ii. Wks. 1727, II. 281. Whether these Arguments be conclusive or no.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 33. As to the purchaser of the estate … the act was final and conclusive.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. ix. 273. These observations were perfectly conclusive as to the quicker motion of the centre [of the glacier].
† 4. Law. That ‘concludes’ or debars; binding: see CONCLUDE 3. Obs.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. lxvi. (1739), 146. The Grand Charter … was conclusive to the King.
