expressiveadj.
/ᵻkˈsprɛsɪv/, /ɛkˈsprɛsɪv/, U.S. /ɪkˈsprɛsɪv/, /ɛkˈsprɛsɪv/ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > [adjective] > pressing to extract something
expressivec1400
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. (MS. A.) 137 Þat oile haþ a vertu expressif..bi þe whiche..akþis ben swagid.
2. Of or pertaining to, or concerned with, expression; having the function of expressing.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > expression > [adjective]
expressive1747
marking1778
1747 W. Collins Odes 47 Each, for Madness rul'd the Hour, Would prove his own expressive Pow'r.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind iv. §2 118 The best judge in all the expressive arts.
1891 J. Jastrow in Educational Rev. I. 262 The receptive powers are in advance of the expressive ones.
3. Serving to express, indicate, or represent.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > representation > [adjective]
representing1577
representative1589
umbratical1633
presentative1642
representatory1693
sembling1706
expressive1713
representational1850
society > communication > expression > [adjective] > serving to express
reflective1640
expressive1713
society > communication > indication > [adjective] > indicating or indicative of
talkative1509
indicant1607
denotative1611
indicative1665
notifying1680
expressive1713
indicating1753
impressive1791
indicatory1798
redolent1828
denotive1830
indiciala1849
indexical1897
1713 Ld. Shaftesbury Notion Hist. Draught Judgm. Hercules i. 11 A situation expressive of Suspence and Doubt.
1794 S. Williams Nat. & Civil Hist. Vermont 378 Tables expressive of this diurnal variation.
1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in Moral Tales III. 34 An air of dignity, which seemed expressive of conscious innocence.
1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue viii. 413 This has a rhetorical use expressive of contempt.
4. Full of expression.
a. Of a word, phrase, or symbol: Expressing its meaning with striking accuracy or force. Formerly also of a statement: Explicit.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > expression > [adjective] > full of expression
speaking1592
expressive1690
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > high significance, expressiveness > [adjective]
sententiousc1440
pregnant?a1475
significant1566
senseful1596
mattery1602
significative1639
expressive1690
meaning1726
voluminous1804
meaningful1852
eloquent1870
1690 Def. Rights & Priviledges Univ. Oxf. Pref. The Priviledges of this University have been in so..expressive words granted to our Predecessours.
1711 P. H. Impartial View Two Late Parl. 141 This Clause they would have had more expressive.
1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) iii. 21 Four fair Queens whose hands sustain a Flow'r, Th' expressive Emblem of their softer Pow'r.
1859 Athenæum 23 July 113 The expressive term of Bung, as signifying a public-house landlord.
1884 R. W. Church Bacon ix. 223 His Latin..is singularly forcible and expressive.
b. Of the countenance, voice, actions, works of art: Characterized by expression.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > high significance, expressiveness > [adjective] > characterized by being
significant1581
speakingc1595
vocal1608
expressful1621
vocal speaking1649
expressive1718
signific1795
speechful1820
expressionable1892
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 28 Aug. (1965) I. 431 The expressive Beauty of that Face and Bosom gives all the passion of Pity and admiration.
1747 G. Lyttelton Monody to Lady xi Through her expressive eyes her soul distinctly spoke.
1768 W. Gilpin Ess. Prints 70 He engraves with a noble, firm, expressive line.
1832 H. Martineau Ireland ii. 29 The Italian gentleman..used an expressive gesture.
1847 G. P. R. James John Marston Hall vii His countenance was a very expressive one.
1851 D. Wilson Archæol. & Prehistoric Ann. Scotl. iv. vii. 646 The most expressive features of every style of Gothic architecture.
1884 Princess Christian tr. Princess Alice Let. in tr. K. Sell Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse 66 Baby is so expressive, she makes such a face when she is not pleased.
5. Of a person: Open or emphatic in expressing (sentiments). Const. of. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > manifestation of emotion > [adjective] > given to or marked by exhibition of emotion
expressivea1616
expansive1659
demonstrative1798
gushy1845
effusive1855
gushing1859
sharing1994
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 51 Vse a more spacious ceremonie to the Noble Lords..be more expressiue to them. View more context for this quotation
1658 Jer. Taylor Let. in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 5 Her..love and veneration to your Ladiship; in which she is so..expressive.
1815 C. Lamb Let. 9 Aug. in Lett. C. & M. A. Lamb (1978) III. 173 We felt as if we had been not enough expressive of our pleasure.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > [adjective]
expressive1628
demonstratory1658
relishing1817
manifesting1888
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. lxxxvi. sig. Z5v Salomon's good Man, is mercifull to his Beaste: nor take I this to be onely intentionall; but expressiue.
1639 F. Robartes Gods Holy House viii. 58 Expressive holinesse is the outward manifestation of the former, by the words of our mouthes.
1747 W. Gould Acct. Eng. Ants 30 There is such a strong expressive Affection imprinted on them towards the Eggs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > [adverb] > clearly visible
evidentlya1382
apparentlya1400
palpablya1456
redelyc1460
redly1513
palpable1585
expressive1718
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 459 Golden sayings..On large phylacteries expressive writ.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
<
adj.c1400