abortive

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Failing to accomplish an intended objective; fruitless: an abortive attempt to conclude the negotiations.
2. adj. Biology Partially or imperfectly developed: an abortive organ.
3. adj. Causing or meant to cause abortion; abortifacient.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Brought forth in an imperfect condition; imperfectly formed or inadequately developed, as an animal or vegetable production; rudimentary.
2. Suppressed; kept imperfect; remaining rudimentary, or not advancing to perfection in form or function: a frequent use of the term in zoölogy. Compare vestigial.
3. Hence Not brought to completion or to a successful issue; failing; miscarrying; coming to nought: as, an abortive scheme.
4. In botany, defective; barren. A. Gray.
5. Producing nothing; chaotic; ineffectual.
6. In medicine, producing or intended to produce abortion; abortifacient: as, abortive drugs.
7. Deformed; monstrous.
8. n. That which is produced prematurely; an abortion; a monstrous birth.
9. n. A drug causing abortion; an abortifacient.
10. To cause to fail or miscarry.
11. To fail; perish; come to nought.

Wiktionary

1. adj. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as an abortive child.
2. adj. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as an abortive vellum.
3. adj. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual.
4. adj. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt.
5. adj. Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.
6. adj. Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. - Parr
7. adj. Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.
8. n. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
9. n. A fruitless effort or issue.
10. n. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion, abortifacient - Dunglison
11. adj. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as an abortive child.
12. adj. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as an abortive vellum.
13. adj. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual.
14. adj. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt.
15. adj. Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.
16. adj. Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. - Parr
17. adj. Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.
18. n. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
19. n. A fruitless effort or issue.
20. n. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion, abortifacient - Dunglison

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Produced by abortion; born prematurely.
2. adj. Made from the skin of a still-born animal.
3. adj. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual.
4. adj. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless; unsuccessful.
5. adj. Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile.
6. adj. Causing abortion.
7. adj. Cutting short.
8. n. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
9. n. A fruitless effort or issue.
10. n. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing abortion; -- also called an abortifacient.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. failing to accomplish an intended result