thinkativeadj.
/ˈθɪŋkətɪv/, U.S. /ˈθɪŋkədɪv/ rare.† 1. Resulting from mere thinking, speculative. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > [adjective]
speculablec1449
speculativea1483
sophical1601
theoretic1656
thinkative1662
sophic1900
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike 343 The knowledge of Observation, doth not introduce an understanding into the essential thingliness of a thing, but erecteth only a thinkative knowledge [L. scientiam putativam].
2. Given to thinking about things a lot; overly concerned with meaning or with thinking about something.
ΚΠ
1941 Nation’s Business Apr. 126/2 A talkative hombre is my luggage man. What is more (it by no means always follows) he is thinkative.
1982 L. Senelick Gordon Craig's Moscow Hamlet vi. 106 ‘Only if the actor thinks less of the content and more of the music of the verse will Shakespeare be possible for him,’ and at that he requested the actors not to be thinkative.
3. Involving or requiring thinking.Apparently only used by American Football player James Lott.
ΚΠ
1989 Tulsa (Okla.) World 1 Jan. E2/5 Clemson free safety James Lott, key man in stopping OU's wishbone, has obviously spent much time contemplating his responsibility. ‘It’s a very thinkative situation,’ he said.
1989 Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) (Nexis) 7 Nov. d6 From the Greenville (S.C.) News in January, quoting a Clemson free safety on his defensive tactics in a coming game: ‘It will be a very thinkative thing.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1662