a. [f. L. type *factīv-us, f. facĕre to make.]

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  † 1.  Tending or having the power to make; concerned with making. Obs.

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1612.  R. Sheldon, Serm. St. Martin’s, 35. What new existences are made of one Christ, by your productiue, creatiue, and factiue consecrations.

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1622.  J. Boys, Wks., 876. The factiue sciences have their excellencies, specially painting and nauigation, in which, Art seemeth a good deale to conend with Nature.

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1649.  Bulwer, Pathomyot., I. iii. 11. Factive motion is … restriction to animall actions performed by the abilitie of the Muscles.

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  2.  Gram. (See quot.; = FACTITIVE.)

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1880.  Public School Lat. Primer, 134. Factive Verbs are such as may be said to make … a thing to be of a certain character, by deed, word or thought…. Factive Construction in the Passive becomes Copulative.

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  Hence † Factivity, capacity, range of activity.

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a. 1643.  J. Shute, Judgem. & Mercy (1645), 82. He perswades himselfe it is in his factivity, because another hath done it.

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