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consumptive (adj.)

early 15c., "wasteful, destructive," also with reference to pulmonary consumption, from Latin consumpt-, stem of consumere (see consume) + -ive. As a noun, attested from late 14c., "medicine that reduces or eliminates" (morbid humors or tissues); from 1660s as "one who suffers from consumption."

Entries related to consumptive

consume (v.)

late 14c., "to destroy by separating into parts which cannot be reunited, as by burning or eating," hence "destroy the substance of, annihilate," from Old French consumer "to consume" (12c.) and directly from Latin consumere "to use up, eat, waste," from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + sumere "to take," from sub- "under" (see sub-) + emere "to buy, take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute").

Specifically, "to destroy by use, wear out by applying to its natural or intended use" from c. 1400. Sense of "to engage the full attention and energy of" is from 1570s.

-ive 
word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to; doing, serving to do," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin adjectival suffix -ivus (source also of Italian and Spanish -ivo). In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (as in hasty, tardy).

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Definitions of consumptive from WordNet
1
consumptive (adj.)
tending to consume or use often wastefully;
duties consumptive of time and energy
consumptive fires
water suitable for beneficial consumptive uses
consumptive (adj.)
afflicted with or associated with pulmonary tuberculosis;
a consumptive cough
a consumptive patient
2
consumptive (n.)
a person with pulmonary tuberculosis;
Synonyms: lunger / tubercular
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near consumptive

consumerism

consummate

consummated

consummation

consumption

consumptive

contact

contagion

contagious

contain

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