consumptive

American  

[kuhn-suhmp-tiv] / kənˈsʌmp tɪv /

adjective

1. tending to consume; destructive; wasteful.

2. relating to consumption by use.

3. Pathology.

   1. relating to or of the nature of consumption.

   2. disposed to or affected with consumption.

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noun

1. Older Use. a person with tuberculosis.

consumptive British  

/ kənˈsʌmptɪv /

adjective

1. causing consumption; wasteful; destructive

2. pathol relating to or affected with consumption, esp tuberculosis of the lungs

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noun

1. pathol a person who suffers from consumption

Other Word Forms

• consumptively adverb
• consumptiveness noun
• nonconsumptive adjective
• nonconsumptively adverb
• nonconsumptiveness noun
• unconsumptive adjective
• unconsumptively adverb

Etymology

Origin of consumptive

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English adjective and noun consumptif “eliminating or reducing morbid humors or tissue; an agent that eliminates or reduces morbid humors or tissue,” from Medieval Latin consūmptīvum, noun use of adjective consūmptīvus “wasteful, destructive; suffering from pulmonary consumption”; consumption, -ive