Added 10 October 2026
abortive
/əˈbɔɹ.tɪv/ adjective
Latin root: abortīvus First recorded: 1382 Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about abortive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Failing to accomplish an intended result.
an abortive revolt
Origin
First attested in 1382, with the meaning "causing stillbirth or miscarriage". From Middle English abortif, from Old French abortif, from Latin abortīvus (“causing abortion”), from aborior (“miscarry, disappear”), from ab (“amiss”) + orior (“appear, be born, arise”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)