reconstructiveadj.n.

1838 Universalist Union 1 Dec. 50/2 This would be a strange ‘moral resurrection’! It must be your destructive-reconstructive conversion!

1851 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire III. xxx. 427 The antiquated forms of the republic were incapable of any reconstructive effort.

1879 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue (ed. 3) vi. 279 The..reconstructive eye of modern Philology.

1882 R. Chambers Bk. of Days II. 484/2 A similar disaster befell it a few years afterwards, with the same display of reconstructive energy on the part of the proprietor.

1928 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 28 1209/2 These patients, unlike most others, are not reduced in strength by illness; reconstructive surgery, in most cases, is not gone on with until the patient is in good condition.

1946 N. Coward Diary 28 May (2000) 58 Long talk with Binkie about the operette. Had some good, reconstructive ideas.

1993 C. Tilley Interpretative Archaeol. x. 421 The writing of convincing reconstructive fiction often entails a stripping down of language which potentially limits its communicative possibilities.

2004 Breast Reconstruction (Breast Cancer Care) (rev. ed.) 21 It is just as important to be breast aware after reconstructive surgery as before.

1851 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 443 A great deal was said and written about the ancient republics, which furnished names and insulated paradigms for many of the innovations discussed, projected, and established by the successive ranks of destructives and reconstructives.

1890 Science 15 219/2 Oysters, on the other hand, are extremely useful as nerve reconstructives.

1927 Daily Express 24 Nov. 5 (advt.) The prescribed reconstructive which creates the good red blood in which no germ can obtain a footing.