amusive en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Old French a- Medieval Latin musumder.? Old French muser Old French amuserbor. Middle English *amusen English amuse Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English amusive From amuse + -ive.
Meanings
-
(obsolete) Illusive, deceitful.
[T]he Swain […] amaz'd / Beholds th' amusive Arch before him fly, / Then vanish quite away.
a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Spring”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
-
(archaic) Giving entertainment or interest; recreative, diverting, engaging.
As I have regarded these amusive birds with no small attention, if I should advance something new and peculiar with respect to them, and different from all other birds, I might perhaps be credited, especially as my assertion is the result of many years' exact observation.
1789, Gilbert White, Natural History and Antiquities of Selbourne:
- (archaic) Amusing, humorous.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most amusive | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more amusive | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |