a. and sb. [f. L. consumpt- ppl. stem of consūmĕre + -IVE. Cf. mod.F. consomptif.] A. adj.
1. Having a tendency to consume; wasteful, destructive.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva (1679), 20. If … he shall esteem it too consumptive of time.
1670. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 330. To manage such a thing as this in letters was a thing too tedious and consumptive.
1860. Gosse, Rom. Nat. Hist., 106. The consumptive energy of the termites, or white ants.
b. Wasteful of money, expensive, costly.
1748. Walpole, Lett. H. Mann (1834), II. clxxxvii. 225. Operas are the only consumptive entertainment.
† 2. Consisting in, or characterized by, being consumed. Obs.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Dissuas. Popery, II. I. § 8. Consumptive Offerings to Saints. Ibid. (1651), Holy Dying, iv. § 8. They that make consumptive oblations.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 327. The ancient Heathen burnt incense to their Gods, which is a consumptive Sacrifice.
† 3. Liable to be consumed or to decay; perishable. Obs.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 74. According to the nature of all consumptive bodies like ours.
4. Affected by wasting disease; wasted, sickly, reduced.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., Ded. The consumptive body of this our Nation, hath lost so much of her best blood and spirits.
a. 1711. Ken, Anodynes, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 437. The Sun, which … Faint and consumptive Ardours cast.
1760. Beattie, Poems (1831), 193. Love has not injur’d my consumptive flocks.
5. spec. Relating or belonging to pulmonary consumption.
1670. Clarendon, Contempl. on Ps., Tracts (1727), 373. A deep consumptive sickness.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physic (1762), 51. A consumptive Cough.
1827. Pollok, Course T., III. 107. Sin, with cold, consumptive breath.
b. Of persons: Having a tendency to, or affected with, consumption.
1660. Pepys, Diary, 17 July. An old consumptive man.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 418. The consumptive patients have their particular ward.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, III. i. 3. He is consumptive and has not many years to live.
† 6. Pecuniarily reduced, spent. Obs.
1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom, xiii. Her finances, which he knew to be in a most consumptive condition. Ibid. (1758), Hist. Eng. (1800), II. 139. Considering the consumptive state of his finances.
7. Comm. Of or for consumption of produce.
Consumptive demand: a demand for purposes of consumption, as opposed to a speculative demand.
1864. Daily Tel., 5 Nov. A fair consumptive demand for wheat.
1887. Pall Mall G., 28 Feb., 2/2. Indications that the world has overtaken in consumptive power the output of our machinery.
1888. Glasgow Herald, 29 Aug. Indian corn met a fair consumptive sale at late rates.
8. Comb., as consumptive-faced, looking.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., III. xxxviii. 132. The consumptive-looking Jew.
1888. Logan (KS) Republican, 12 Jan., 4/4. If you think I want a slim-waisted consumptive-faced wife, you are away off.
B. sb. [elliptical use of the adj.]
† 1. A consumptive or corrosive agent. Obs.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 8. The great consumptives that do … exhaust that time.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 323. I … dressed it … with the Consumptive, to destroy the fungous Flesh.
2. A consumptive patient or person.
1666. G. Harvey, Morb. Angl. (1672), 2. The Spring is bad for Consumptives.
1880. Vern. Lee, Stud. Italy, III. iii. 126. Where consumptives are sent to revive or to die.
Hence Consumptively adv., Consumptiveness.
1697. T. Nevett, Consumptions, 61. My advice to the consumptive or consumptively inclined.
1730–6. Bailey (folio), Consumptiveness, wasting condition or quality.
1755. Johnson, Consumptiveness, a tendency to consumption.
