a. [f. AFFRONT v. + -IVE, in imitation of words like effect-ive in which -ive is properly added to the L. ppl. stem.] Of affronting character or tendency.
1659. Gauden, Tears of Ch., 510. Affrontive to the glory [of] God and the Honor of the Catholick Church.
1704. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., IX. 331. Rude and most affrontive language.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, iv. (1811), I. 23. Their behaviour … was very cold and disobliging, but as yet not directly affrontive.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. xxiv. (1865), 410. The affrontive quality of the primitive enquiry.
