pu´ni|tive|ness

pu´ni|tive|ness
pu|ni|tive «PYOO nuh tihv», adjective.
1. concerned with punishment: »

punitive laws. Julius Caesar's first invasion of Britain was a punitive military expedition.

2. seeking to punish; inflicting punishment: »

The judge imposed a punitive sentence on the prisoner. He had no comment on whether possible punitive action against the Teamsters will be discussed (Wall Street Journal).

[< Medieval Latin punitivus < Latin pūnīre to punish]
pu´ni|tive|ly, adverb.
pu´ni|tive|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • a|bor´tive|ness — a|bor|tive «uh BR tihv», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. coming to nothing; unsuccessful; fruitless: »Early attempts to make airplanes fly proved abortive. The League of Nations was part of an abortive effort to secure world peace. SYNONYM(S):… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ab|sorp´tive|ness — ab|sorp|tive «ab SRP tihv, ZRP », adjective. able to absorb; absorbent. –ab|sorp´tive|ly, adverb. –ab|sorp´tive|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • ab|strac´tive|ness — ab|strac|tive «ab STRAK tihv», adjective. 1. having the power of abstraction. 2. of or having the nature of an abstract or summary. –ab|strac´tive|ly, adverb. –ab|strac´tive|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • a|dap´tive|ness — a|dap|tive «uh DAP tihv», adjective. 1. a) of or characterized by adaptation. b) showing adaptation. 2. serving to adapt. 3. Biology. enabling the organism to fit into a certain environment or situation. –a|dap´|tive|ly, adverb. –a|dap´tive|ness …   Useful english dictionary

  • am´a|tive|ness — am|a|tive «AM uh tihv», adjective. amorous. ╂[< Latin amātus, past participle of amāre to love + English ive] –am´a|tive|ly, adverb. –am´a|tive|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • as|ser´tive|ness — as|ser|tive «uh SUR tihv», adjective. too confident and certain; positive; forward: »John is an assertive boy, always insisting on his own rights and opinions. –as|ser´tive|ly, adverb. –as|ser´tive|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • as|tric´tive|ness — as|tric|tive «uh STRIHK tihv», adjective, noun. –adj. binding; astringent. –n. an astringent. –as|tric´tive|ly, adverb. –as|tric´tive|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

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  • at|trac´tive|ness — at|trac|tive «uh TRAK tihv», adjective. 1. winning attention and liking; pleasing: »She wore an attractive hat to the party.…unlike her sister, she was unusually attractive (Theodore Dreiser). SYNONYM(S): charming, alluring, engaging. 2.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • caus´a|tive|ness — caus|a|tive «K zuh tihv», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. being a cause; productive (of an effect): »That which is essentially causative of all being must be causative of its own (Samuel Taylor Coleridge). SYNONYM(S): generative. 2. expressing… …   Useful english dictionary

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