consumptive

comparative more consumptive · superlative most consumptive

1. Having a tendency to consume; dissipating; destructive; wasteful.

   a long consumptive war

   1708, Joseph Addison, The Present State of the War, and the Necessity of an Augmentation

   1 more example

   [O]n ſome occaſions, he diſplayed all his fund of good humour, vvith a vievv to beguile her ſorrovv; he importuned her to give him the pleasure of ’ſquiring her to ſome place of innocent entertainment; and, finally, inſiſted upon her accepting a pecuniary reinforcement to her finances, vvhich he knevv to be in a moſt conſumptive condition.

   1753, [Tobias Smollett], “Count Fathom Unmasks His Battery; is Repulsed; and Varies His Operations without Effect”, in The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom. […], volume II, London: […] W. Johnston, […], →OCLC, pages 107–108

2. Of or relating to consumption.
3. medicineRelating to pulmonary tuberculosis.

   consumptive cough

   1 more example

   The lean, conſumptive, wench, with coughs decay'd, / Is call'd a pretty, tight, and ſlender maid.

   a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Latter Part of the Fourth Book of Lucretius; Concerning the Nature of Love”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume II, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 457

plural consumptives

1. A person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

   The consumptive has managed to shake the servant from her side and walks alone, striving to make it look easy.

   2002, Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White, Canongate Books (2010), page 426