exclusiveadj.n.
/ᵻkˈskluːsɪv/, /ɛkˈskluːsɪv/, U.S. /ɪkˈsklusɪv/, /ɪkˈskluzɪv/, /ɛkˈsklusɪv/, /ɛkˈskluzɪv/ A. adj.
I. That excludes.† 2. Excluding (some other) from participation. Const. of, to. Sometimes quasi-adv.= ‘to the exclusion of’. Obsolete.
1. Having the power or the function of excluding. rare. exclusive voice n. right of veto.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > prohibition > [noun] > veto > legislative or political > right or power of
exclusive1599
negative1613
exclusive voice1706
liberum veto1734
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ni/1 Exclusiue, exclusiuus.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 625 We..obstacle find none Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs. View more context for this quotation
1682 N. Tate & J. Dryden 2nd Pt. Absalom & Achitophel 9 Who with Exclusive Bills must now Dispence, Debarr the Heir, or Starve in his Defence.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) (at cited word) Soveraigns have an Exclusive Voice in the Election of Popes.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison V. xxxiv. 217 Your ‘tutor’..your friend, your ‘ Brother’ (too clearly do I see the exclusive force of that last recognition!).
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1670 R. Coke Disc. Trade 66 The Dutch..will drive the Trade of the World exclusive to the English.
1698 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. 125 One that was, by Right of Nature, to Inherit all..exclusive..of his brethren.
1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xxxii. 370 By this sudden peace exclusive to the English, the Protestants were..weakned.
3. Not admitting of the existence or presence of (something); unable to co-exist, incompatible. exclusive concepts (Logic): (see quot.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > disharmony or incongruity > [adjective] > incompatible
repugnantc1443
unsufferablea1586
insociable1591
incompatible1592
incompossible1605
unsociable1611
irreconciliable1615
incompliable1625
uncompliable1626
incompassible1630
incompatible1641
incompatible1641
inconsistent1656
incoherent1704
exclusivea1716
incombining1738
unassociable1816
inconjoinable1844
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. i. 4 The lowest Degree [of eternal Life and Happiness] is exclusive of all Pain and Misery.
1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France i. 130 Various persons may concur in the same measure on various grounds. They may be various, without being contrary to, or exclusive of each other.
1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic iv. 93 Exclusive Concepts—animal and vegetable, for instance—do not coincide in any part of their Extension.
4.
a. Of a statement, enumeration, measurement, etc.: Excluding, not comprising (something). Const. of, †to. Of an interval: Not including one or both of the specified terminal points. Opposed to inclusive.
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1651 N. Bacon Contin. Hist. Disc. Govt. Pref. sig. A2v Not one instance in all that Book is exclusive to the Commons.
1651 R. Baxter Plain Script. Proof Infants Church-membership & Baptism 105 Who dare think that the word (To such) is not rather inclusive as to them, then exclusive?
b. quasi-adv. (and adv.) So as to exclude; according to the exclusive mode of computation. (In the earlier instances the word is perhaps the Latin adverb exclūsīvē: cf. esp. quot. a1626.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being exclusive > [adjective]
exclusive1515
exclusory1585
exclusionary1849
uninclusive1864
exclusivist1960
exclusivistic1961
1515 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. I. *261 Fra the xiiij day forsaid inclusiue, to xx day of þe samyn exclusiue.
a1626 F. Bacon Jurisdict. Marches in Wks. (1740) IV. 133 The distinction of exclusivè and inclusivè is a distinction both in time and place.]
1679–88 in J. Y. Akerman Moneys Secret Services Charles II & James II (1851) (Camden) 90 From 25th Decemb. last exclusive, to 29th Feb'ry following incl.
1724 J. Swift Some Observ. Wood's Half-pence 10 Nor do I know whether he reckons the dross Exclusive or Inclusive with his Three hundred and Sixty Tun of Copper.
1751 Chambers's Cycl. (ed. 7) Exclusive..is also used adverbially: as..He sent him all the Gazettes, from No. 195 to No. 300 exclusive.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. iii. 24 The châlet..contained four men exclusive of myself and my guide.
c. In 18th and early 19th cent. exclusive of is often used where we should now say ‘irrespective of’, ‘apart from (the question of)’, ‘not to speak of’.
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a1766 F. Sheridan Concl. Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph (1767) V. 35 I..should (exclusive of any other reasons) have thought myself bound, [etc.].
1792 Eliz. Percy II. 101 He could not, exclusive of his moral character, excape the slur of villany.
1825 R. P. Ward Tremaine II. xii. 118 I think I should like to know her, exclusive of having lost my way.
1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 676.
II. Excluding all but what is specified.
5. Logic. Of propositions and particles: (see quots. 18641, 18642).
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1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 111 Logicians..framyng a sounde and probable Argument from the proposition Exponent, to the Exclusive.
1725 I. Watts Logick iii. ii. §4 Exclusive Propositions will form a complex Argument; as, pious Men are the only Favourites of Heaven.
1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic v. 135 The English Exclusive particles are, one, only, alone, exclusively, etc.
1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic v. 145 Exclusive Propositions limit the Predicate to this one Subject, thereby excluding it from every other Subject.
6.
a. Of a monopoly or grant: Excluding all other persons from the rights conferred. Hence of a right, privilege, possession, quality, etc.: In which others have no share, esp. of journalistic news or other published matter. Scots Law: (see quot. 1861).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or restricted in application > [adjective] > special or private
sunderlyeOE
sundrilyeOE
singularc1380
private1526
alonely1567
sole1597
separate1673
exclusive1765
secluded1790
undivided1867
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [adjective] > exclusive news
exclusive1841
1765 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (ed. 2) i. 129 The French claim..an exclusive fishery upon the sea-coast.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 20 The king's exclusive legal title. View more context for this quotation
1810 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) V. 488 They must be under the immediate and exclusive command of their own commanding officer.
1841 Punch 17 July p. iii An experienced nobleman..who..is frequently in a position to supply exclusive reports.
1841 Punch 28 Aug. 81/2 (heading) Further particulars. (Particularly exclusive.)
1841 Punch 13 Nov. 205/1 Our positive tone on the occasion serves to show the exclusive nature of all our intelligence.
1845 Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Mag. 1 262/1 What you get from me will be exclusive—from your ‘own’ correspondent.
1847 Sporting Life 18 Sept. 52/2 It paid for extensive and exclusive reports.
1848 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 III. ix. 477 The right of exclusive trade with India, had been withdrawn from the Company.
1861 G. Ross W. Bell's Dict. Law Scotl. (rev. ed.) 354/1 Exclusive Privilege..is used in a limited acceptation to signify the rights and franchises of the nature of monopolies, formerly enjoyed by the incorporated trades of a royal burgh.
1885 Liverpool Daily Post 1 June 5/2 The Daily News..has, by the accuracy of its exclusive information, made, etc.
1928 D. L. Sayers Unpleasantness at Bellona Club xix. 247 Hardy, with Fleet Street's delicate reticence towards the man with an exclusive story, did not press the question.
1966 New Statesman 13 May 680/3 The rival's story is no longer exclusive—it can now be decently lifted: i.e. hastily rewritten.
b. Exclusively confined to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or restricted in application > [adjective] > belonging to a particular thing or person
specialc1230
proper1340
peculiara1475
specifical?a1475
singular?a1513
private1526
privy1560
personed1565
individual1570
particular1582
idiotical1655
specific1665
sacred1667
specific1667
specifiala1670
idiomatic1771
idiomatical1774
appropriate1796
exclusive1804
propriate1820
especial1854
dedicated1969
1804 J. Grahame Sabbath 450 Nor is regret exclusive to the old.
1959 Times 12 Jan. 11/3 Anti-Flam: Permanent flame-resistant finish exclusive to Horrockses Crewdson.
c. Of a coach (see quot. 1839). U.S.
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1836 Knickerbocker Mag. 8 347 The ‘exclusive extra’ performed its locomotive office with wonderful rapidity and effect.
1839 J. F. Cooper Home as Found (1878) xvii. 282 An ‘exclusive extra’ meant a coach expressly engaged by a particular individual.
1849 N. P. Willis Rural Lett. 202 We reached the head-waters..by what Miss Martineau celebrates as an ‘exclusive extra’, in an afternoon's ride.
d. Of clothing, furniture, etc.: of a pattern or model exclusively belonging to or claimed by a particular establishment or firm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or restricted in application > [adjective] > belonging to a particular thing or person > belonging to a particular firm or establishment
exclusive1901
1901 Tatler 18 Oct. p. iv (advt.) Some very charming artistic novelties in exclusive and original designs are now ready for inspection.
1919 Tatler 2 July (advt.) Charming and exclusive designs.
1924 Queen 2 July p. xiv (advt.) The absurdly low prices of the most exclusive gowns in London.
1924 Queen 9 July p. ix (advt.) Practical designs for golfing, country and travelling wear. Exclusive but inexpensive.
1959 [see sense A. 6b]. 7. Of actions, sentiments, etc.: Strictly limited to the object or objects designated. exclusive dealing n. the practice of confining one's custom to certain special tradesmen, esp. on political or ecclesiastical grounds.
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1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 46 A threat of exclusive dealing was clearly established against the vestry-clerk.
1883 H. Spencer in Contemp. Rev. 43 9 Exclusive devotion to work has the result that amusements cease to please.
8. Employed or followed to the exclusion of everything else; single, sole.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > only one > [adjective]
onlepyeOE
aefauldeOE
onlyOE
soleinc1369
solea1398
halea1400
seul1477
anerlyc1485
alonelya1513
allenarlya1525
singulara1555
fellowlessa1586
unfellowed1597
unique1601
lone1602
unical1605
single1633
solitarya1634
exclusive1790
one-off1934
one-of-a-kind1954
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 288 If he had been made the exclusive channel. View more context for this quotation
1862 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. II. i. 5 I do not see why these should be the exclusive studies of our schools.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind iv. 70 By no means the exclusive medium of thought.
1873 St. G. Mivart Lessons Elem. Anat. ii. 58 The main or exclusive locomotive organ.
III. That excluded non-members, and related uses.
9. Of a corporate body, government, class of society, social circle, etc.: Disposed to resist the admission of outsiders to membership or to intimacy of association. Hence of persons as members of such associations, their temper or principles. Now also in general use, high-class, expensive; highbrow.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > [adjective] > exclusive
exclusive1822
narrow1855
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > choice or excellent > exclusive
elite1808
select1836
exclusive1942
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > high price or rate > [adjective] > dear or expensive
dear1044
costful1340
costious1340
costlewa1387
costlya1400
costy?c1430
prized1500
high1542
high-priced1591
expenseful1605
chary1610
expensivea1661
salt1710
dearthful1786
big ticket1906
pricey1932
exclusive1942
up-market1972
1822 W. Hazlitt Lett. (1978) 219 The same exclusive and narrow-minded spirit [as that of Dissenters].
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xiv. 196 Exclusive! pooh! trash—talk to every body.
1850 R. W. Emerson Montaigne in Representative Men iv. 150 The literary class is usually proud and exclusive.
1857 F. M. Müller in Times 20 Apr. 6/3 No religion..was more exclusive than that of the Brahmans.
1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh I. 162 An oligarchic government, as exclusive as that of the worst days of the Venetian Republic.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 179 The strange animals and rich minerals..which had so enlarged the ideas..of the untravelled and exclusive Israelites.
1942 London Calling 15 Jan. 10/1 Claridges, probably the most exclusive hotel in the world.
1942 John o' London's Weekly 10 Apr. 6/2 The short story of today is roughly one of two kinds—what is called the Magazine Story; and the newer kind which derives from Tchekov and is cultivated by the more exclusive periodicals.
B. n.† 2. = exclusive voice n. at sense A. 1; cf. Italian exclusiva.
1. An exclusive proposition or particle. Cf. A. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical proposition > [noun] > types of proposition
corollaryc1374
porism?a1425
exclusive1533
exponible1569
exceptive1570
continuative1725
desitive1725
inceptive1725
inceptive proposition1725
limitative1864
pseudo-proposition1883
metaphysics1935
1533 T. More Debellacyon Salem & Bizance i. vi. f. xxxix This man hath a special insyght in inclusyues and exclusyues, when he weneth that in my wordes it were included [etc.].
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 174 The scriptures that say Christ is in heauen, speake without exclusiues, or exceptiues.
1656 R. Vines Treat. Lords-supper (1677) 285 I will not now stand to prove the exclusive.
1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic v. 145 These [Exponibles] are divided into Exclusives, Exceptives and Restrictives.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > prohibition > [noun] > veto > legislative or political > right or power of
exclusive1599
negative1613
exclusive voice1706
liberum veto1734
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 147 Whereby having the Exclusive as they terme it; no Pope can be made but with his liking.
3. An exclusive person. Cf. A. 9.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > [noun] > social group > exclusive > one belonging to
one of us1785
exclusive1825
insider1848
ingrouper1939
1825 R. P. Ward Tremaine II. ii. 24 She came out..in full maturity of fastidiousness, a finished Exclusive.
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1839) VIII. 75 One by one, the other exclusives were seen engaged in a little tête-à-tête with her Ladyship.
1867 L. M. Child Romance of Republic xxiii. 283 She used to be the most fastidious of exclusives.
4. An article, news-item, etc., contributed exclusively to, or published exclusively by, a particular newspaper or periodical. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > item > news item > exclusive
beat1873
scoop1874
exclusive1901
1901 Westm. Gaz. 28 Aug. 2/2 When he goes beyond this to supply his paper's demand for ‘exclusives’, he has to rely on second-hand versions of events.
1903 Daily Chron. 9 Dec. 5/2 [He] had the experience this week of reading his own obituary notice, which the ‘Fermanagh Times’ had as an ‘exclusive’.
1904 F. Lynde Grafters xxviii. 367 You'll have all the exciting details for an ‘exclusive’, to say nothing of the batch of affidavits in the oil scandal.
1917 C. N. Bennett Guide to Kinematogr. 122 A good exclusive will have a ‘life’ of six months at least.
1936 E. Ambler Dark Frontier x. 163 You'll give us an exclusive when the story does break, I hope.
1959 F. Usher Death in Error x. 156 He had a good story and was..hoping to clean up with a world-wide exclusive when it broke.
1967 Punch 8 Feb. 191/1 The Sun..has had a number of useful exclusives.
Compounds
exclusive company n. now historical a joint-stock company, esp. one with a monopoly on trade in a particular region or commodity (cf. sense A. 6a).
ΚΠ
1695 J. Cary Ess. State Eng. 61 To limit this Trade to an exclusive Company.
1752 London Mag. Dec. 546/1 Whether this company ought to be an open or an exclusive company is a question of another nature.
1819 R. Southey Hist. Brazil III. xli. 553 Carvalho also chartered an exclusive Company for the Whale Fishery.
1966 D. B. Davis Probl. of Slavery in Western Culture (1988) v. 131 The slave trade was apparently taken for granted by an exclusive company chartered in 1631 by Charles I.
Draft additions February 2005
B. n. Usually with capital initial. A member of the Exclusive Brethren. Usually in plural: = Exclusive Brethren n. at Additions.
ΚΠ
1885 Contemp. Rev. Oct. 552 The Exclusives are divided into Darbyites, Kellyites, and Cluffites; the Open Brethren into Müllerites, or the Bethesda party, and Newtonians.
1931 E. H. Broadbent Pilgrim Church xvi. 372 Some of them, standing in fear of the criticisms of the followers of Darby (often called ‘Exclusives’) became in varying degrees exclusive themselves.
1990 Times (Nexis) 13 Oct. The rule of the Exclusives was considerably relaxed after 1970.
Draft additions February 2005
A. adj. Exclusive Brethren n. the more rigorous of the two principal divisions of the Plymouth Brethren (the other being the Open Brethren), formed in 1849, characterized by the considerable restrictions placed on contact with outsiders and with many aspects of contemporary secular culture, now esp. with regard to the media, information technology, and entertainment.
ΚΠ
1879 A. Miller Brethren iv. 61 It is also said, we know, that the Exclusive Brethren—as the protesters against Bethesda's course were now called—will receive persons to the Lord's table from the church of England, where much error is held, but refuse the most godly saint from a Bethesda gathering.
1967 H. H. Rowdon Origins of Brethren xi. 263 Those who..insulated themselves from every assembly and individual that upheld Bethesda,..will go down in history as Exclusive Brethren.
2000 A. Mason in A. Hastings et al. Oxf. Compan. Christian Thought 81/2 Some Exclusive Brethren drew apart from the world... They would withdraw from professional associations, and avoid sitting down for meals with people, even family members, not in the meeting.
Draft additions December 2007
Exclusive Economic Zone n. (also with lower-case initials) an area of coastal water and seabed within a certain distance of a country's coastline, to which that country claims exclusive rights for fishing, drilling, and other economic activities; cf. economic zone n. at economic n. and adj. Compounds.
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1973 Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 27 Apr. 78/3 Proposals have been drawn up..so African coastal states can declare ‘exclusive economic zones’ up to 200 nautical miles from their shores.
2000 E. Hunt et al. South Pacific 37/2 They have large areas available for agriculture and large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) for fisheries.
Draft additions September 2016
Grammar. Designating or relating to (the use of) a first person plural pronoun or possessive adjective when the addressee is excluded (as in we’ll be with you by midday). Opposed to inclusive (inclusive adj. 6).In some languages the inclusive and exclusive pronouns take different forms.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > pronoun > [adjective] > specific use of pronouns
impersonal1803
exclusive1828
inclusive1828
royal1835
1828 W. Humboldt Ess. Affinities Oriental Lang. 7 Several American languages have two plural forms in the first person, an exclusive and an inclusive form, according as we would include or exclude the person addressed.
1834 H. R. Schoolcraft Narr. Exped. Itasca Lake 173 There is, in the pronoun, an inclusive and an exclusive plural... If we say we, or us, or our men, (who are present,) or we, or us, or our Indians, (in general,) the plural we, and us, and our..admit of a change to indicate whether the objective person be included or excluded.
1906 Bible in World 2 175 In addressing God in prayer, and confessing ‘we are sinners’, we use the exclusive form because we exclude God from the congregation of sinners.
1994 J. Harkins Bridging Two Worlds iii. 54 Aboriginal languages make finer distinctions such as..an inclusive/exclusive distinction (with different forms for we depending on whether or not the addressee is included).
2005 M. Cysouw in E. Filimonova Clusivity i. vii. 222 In cases like the English we, there is no formal differentiation between an inclusive and an exclusive pronoun.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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