minorative

• minoratyve [16th C.]

From the late-Middle French minoratif, minorative (“that diminishes or lessens”, of a medicine “mildly laxative”; as a noun “a mild laxative”), from minorer (“to diminish the importance [of]”). Equivalent to minorate (“diminish”, “lessen”) +‎ -ive. Compare the post-Classical (i.e. 9th C.) Latin minōrātīvus.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmaɪnəɹeɪtɪv/

minorative (not comparable)

1. That diminishes or attenuates
2. (obsolete, of a medicine) Gently laxative.
   • 1543, Bartholomew Traheron (translator), Joannes de Vigo (author), The Most Excellent Workes of Chirurgerye, book IX, addendum, page 225:

     Clysters sometymes do supplye the rowme of minoratyve medicines.

   • 1747, Jean Astruc (author; translator unknown), Academical Lectures on Fevers, page 112:

     Nothing but minorative apozems should be ordered.

minorative (plural minoratives)

1. (obsolete) A gently laxative medicine.
   • 1633, James Hart, Κλινική; or, The Diet of the Diseased, book III, chapter xiv, page 284:

     When […] wee feare lest nature faint before perfect concoction, we may sometimes use a gentle minorative.

   • 1747, Jean Astruc (author; translator unknown), Academical Lectures on Fevers, page 232:

     Others give minoratives more frequently.

• NED VI (L–N; 1st ed., 1908), part ii (M–N), § 1 (M), page 478/3, “†Mi·norative, a. and sb.”
• OED (2nd ed., 1989), “†ˈminorative, a. and n.”
• OED (3rd ed., March 2002), “†minorative, adj. and n.”

minorative

1. feminine singular of minoratif

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

minorative f (plural minoratives)

1. laxative