a. [f. L. type *compressīv-us, f. compress- ppl. stem of comprimĕre: see -IVE. So mod.F. compressif, -ive.]
1. Having the attribute or function of compressing; tending to compress.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 67. The compressiue motion of the Ventricle and intrels.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, vii. 111. By reason of their compressiue faculty, being eaten after meate, they [apples] make the belly soluble, and helpe the subduction of excrements.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, V. xxxiii. His three fingers supported [the book] without the least compressive violence.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 171. The bark … has also a strong compressive energy, expelling moisture from the layers that successively assume the character of heart-wood.
1856. Grote, Greece, II. xci. XII. 21. A neighbour sure to be domineering and compressive, and likely enough to be tyrannical.
† 2. Consisting in or caused by compression. Obs.
1572. J. Jones, Bathes of Bath, I. 7 a. Ytching payne commeth of a tarte or salt humor … Compressiue, commeth of matter, or wyndines, that maketh narrowe, or constrayneth, the membre or part.
1662. H. More, Immort. Soul, I. i. 148. A more then ordinary Motion or compressive Rest may very well prove painful to the Soul.
Hence Compressively adv., with compression.
1830. Carlyle, Sartor Res., II. ii. [My upbringing] was rigorous, too frugal, compressively secluded.
