a. and sb. Obs. Also 7 vomitif, womitive; 6 Sc. womatiue, 7–8 vomative. [a. F. vomitif, -ive (= Sp., Pg., It. vomitivo), ad. med.L. *vomitīv-us: see VOMIT v. and -IVE.]
A. adj. 1. Of medicines, etc.: Causing vomiting; vomitory; emetic.
1580. Well of Woman Hill, Aberdeen, a 2 b. To vtheris it is womatiue.
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 142. Being therein helped by certaine vomitive pils.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. xii. 337. From this vitriolous quality Mercuries dulcis, and vitriol vomitive occasion black ejections.
1682. Hist. Thee, in Harl. Misc., I. 532. Now Thee itself, when given in a large dose,… does often prove vomitive.
1725. Sloane, Jamaica, II. 186. These nuts grow in Jamaica; they are not vomitive,… but called and eaten as Wallnuts.
1754. Phil. Trans., XLVIII. 846. [Antimony] being in substance most violently vomitive.
2. Of or pertaining to vomiting.
1657. G. Starkey, Helmont’s Vind., Ep. Rdr. 10. The true preparation of all Vegetals, takes away … the vomitive quality of them, except only in Opium.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. V. viii. 189. That Vomitive faculty, of Antimonial Glass. Ibid. (a. 1691), Hist. Air (1692), 233. Antimonium Diaphoreticum, being kept some Years,… acquir’d a Vomitive Quality.
B. sb. An emetic; = VOMITORY sb. 1.
1611. Cotgr., Vomitif, a Vomitiue, or Vomitorie; any thing that prouokes vomiting.
1677. Horneck, Gt. Law Consid., vii. (1704), 422. Physicians … make him sicker than he is … by vomitives.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 403. They gave her also Vomitives and Deobstruents.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., The Ipecacuanha … is also a gentle Vomitive.
1747. trans. Astruc’s Fevers, 71. The second indication is to evacuate the morbid humour by vomatives or purgatives, or a cathartico-emetic.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 337. Vomits may be rendered purgatives, and purges vomitives.
fig. 1685. Gracian’s Courtier’s Orac., 192. Slowness in believing is a Vomitive that brings up secrets.
