a. Also 5 -ife, comynycatyue. [a. F. communicatif, -ive, f. L. commūnicāt-: see above and -IVE.]
1. That has the quality or habit of communicating. In many applications.
† a. That has the quality of communicating or diffusing itself, diffusive. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. ix. (1495), 37. The Cherubyn haue comynycatyue cunnynge, for the lyghte of wysdom that they receyue largly it stremyth by theim largely.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 22. The communicatife doctrine of broþer.
1645. E. Calamy, Indictm. agst. Eng., 31. A communicative mercy that perfumeth whole Kingdomes with blessings.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Serm. I. iii. 28. An evil so communicative that it doth … work like poison.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. vi. 155. True religion is naturally communicative.
† b. Open to familiar intercourse; sociable; not stiff or reserved. Obs.
1602. Patericke, trans. Gentillet, 313. A lover of the people, humane, kind, communicative, of easie accesse.
1673. Rules of Civility, vi. 66. Reservedness is … unwelcome to all Societies, when a hearty communicative man is useful and acceptable.
1753. M. Johnson, in Bibl. Topogr. Brit., III. 435. I … received great civilities from his communicative courtesy.
a. 1791. W. Maxwell, in Boswell, Johnson, an. 1770. The most accessible and communicative man alive.
† c. Of things: Sociable. Obs.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 34. [Drunkenness] is communicatiue, and requires the emulation of companions.
† d. Disposed to communicate or impart gifts, benefits, etc.; liberal, generous. Obs.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 218/1. As to the necessaries of Life, he was liberal and communicative, ready to do good.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 519, ¶ 5. Infinite Goodness is of so communicative a Nature, that it seems to delight in the conferring of Existence.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Hist., II. viii. § 3. These men are despisers of riches, and … very communicative.
e. with of.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gent. (1634), 187. Whose uprightnesse … hath (like his owne starre communicative of it selfe) dispersed the fairer beames into all places.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 437. He is communicative of his Gifts.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 332. Communicative of the good he owns.
f. Ready to communicate information, etc.; free in conversation, open, talkative. (The usual current sense.)
1654. Cromwell, Sp., 12 Sept. (Carlyle). They became communicative. They told me, [etc.].
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, I. 184. That no less Communicative then Judicious Antiquary.
a. 1714. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 267. They were in a particular manner communicative to me.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., III. iii. I was always of a communicative disposition, so I thought it a shame to keep so much knowledge to myself.
1847–8. H. Miller, First Impr., v. (1861), 58. The lengthened anecdotes of the communicative Annette.
2. Suitable to communicate or convey information, etc. rare.
1664. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 147. It [a publication] would certainly be most communicative and effectual in Latin.
1885. Stevenson, in Contemp. Rev., April, 561. Choosing apt, explicit, and communicative words.
† 3. Fitted for, or capable of, being communicated; communicable. Obs.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, 142. Not as words communicative to some few present auditors, but blazed to the world.
1689. Col. Rec. Penn., I. 317. The Board’s Readiness to Receive any thing ffrom him Communicative to them.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 34. Subject to communicative Distempers, as scrophulous, or scorbutick … Disorders.
† 4. Commonly or generally applicable. Obs.
1641. Milton, Animadv. (1851), 228. If the reason of this … name, Angel, be equally collective, and communicative to the whole preaching ministry … then must the name be collectively, and communicatively taken.
5. Of or pertaining to communication.
1670. Clarendon, Ess., Tracts (1727), 137. The communicative duty which we owe to our brethren.
1710. Shaftesb., Charac., 1. § 2 (1737), II. 81. A Creature … wholly destitute of a communicative or social Principle.
1863. J. G. Murphy, Comm. Gen. xi. 18–20, Introd. From the passive and receptive to the active and communicative stage.
1887. Spectator, 25 June, 886/1. Establishing friendly and communicative relations with the people.
