[a. F. conversif, -ive, in med.L. conversīvus, f. convers- ppl. stem of convertĕre to CONVERT: see -IVE.]
† 1. = CONVERSE a.2 Obs. rare.
1636. Featly, Clavis Myst., lvi. 774. In the conversive proposition … I admit, [etc.].
2. Having the power or function of conversion.
a. 1655. Vines, Lord’s Supp. (1677), 90. Those operative and conversive words.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gertiles, II. iv. 14. Impletive of althings and conversive of althings into itself.
b. Heb. Gram. In Vau conversive, a term applied to the conjunction va (wa) ‘and,’ when employed to give to the future (or imperfect) tense, following a past (or perfect) expressed or understood, the force of the latter tense.
1751. Wesley, Wks. (1872), XIV. 154. The conversive particle [Hebrew], with a Patha … turns the Future into a Perfect.
1819. G. S. Faber, Dispens. (1823), II. 83. Neither of the verbs has the conversive Vau prefixed.
1844. Gesenius’ Heb. Lex., 274. When whole sections or books begin with Vav conversive … this denotes that they are connected with an earlier narrative.
3. ‘Capable of being converted or changed’ (Webster, 1864).
Hence † Conversively adv. = CONVERSELY.
1607. R. Wilkinson, Merchant Royall, 33. We may say, conuersiuely … that the wisdome of Salomon [etc.].
1634. ‘E. Knott,’ in Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. v. Wks. (1742), 236. Every Heretique is a Schismatique, but not conversively every Schismatique is an Heretique.
