a. and sb. [a. F. correctif, -ive, f. L. correct- ppl. stem + -IVE.]
A. adj.
1. Having the property or function of correcting or setting right what is erroneous or faulty, or of producing amendment; tending to correct.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. x. (1632), 570. Somewhat an hereticke: Incapable of innovation, though corrective [mesme correctifve].
1630. Brerewood, Treat. Sabbath, 14 (T.). The law of nations alloweth … masters over their servants not only a directive but a corrective and coactive power.
1622. R. Holdsworth, Serm. on Ps. cxliv. 15, 27 (L.). The Psalmist interposeth a caution in this corrective particle, ‘yea, happy.’
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. xxxvii. 269. If my afflictions are sent me for corrective ends.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. viii. 108. The penalty … is, in the first instance, corrective, not penal.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 46. Utility … has been the great corrective principle in law, in politics, in religion.
1892. Form D, Inl. Revenue, Corrective Affidavit in connection with the Stamp Duties on Probates.
b. In corrective justice, a rendering of Aristotle’s διορθωτικὸν δίκαιον, also rendered commutative justice (see COMMUTATIVE 1 b); but by Hooker distinguished from this, and app. used in sense ‘castigatory, punitive.’
1531. [see COMMUTATIVE 1 b].
c. 1586. Hooker, Serm. Pride, II. Wks. III. 772. The several kinds of justice, distributive, commutative, and corrective. Ibid., v. 794. So unappeasable is the rigour and dirity of his corrective justice.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 120. Nor is that corrective and distributive justice, which Aristotle affirmed to be in Arithmetical, and in Geometrical proportion.
1868. Bain, Mental & Mor. Sci., 493. Corrective or Reparative Justice takes no account of persons.
2. Having the property of counteracting or neutralizing the ill effect of something hurtful or unpleasant; or of restoring to a healthy condition.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 71 b. Untill that humour be expelled, the diete muste be corrective of that humour.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. i. § 3. This corrective spice, the mixture whereof maketh knowledge so sovereign, is charity.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 246. Mulberries, pectoral, corrective of the bilious Alkali.
Mod. Advt., These corrective Pills are the best remedy for all defective action of the digestive organs.
B. sb. [Elliptical uses of the adj.]
1. Something that has the property of counteracting or neutralizing what is harmful; that which restores to a healthy state. Also fig.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., Prol. No spirit so much diseased, But will with such fair correctives be pleased.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems, To Sir H. Wotton. Do not adde Correctives, but as Chymikes, purge the bad.
1707. Miége, St. Gt. Brit., II. 113. The Natives … take a large dose of Aqua Vitæ for a Corrective.
1721. Berkeley, Prev. Ruin Gt. Brit., Wks. III. 209. It is not enough to ease the part pained; we must … apply general correctives.
1863. Holland, Lett. Joneses, xvii. 252. We take … some varieties of fruit as a corrective.
2. Something that tends to set right what is wrong, to remove or counteract an evil, etc. (Usually with more or less allusion to sense 1.) Const. of or to.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. Pref. 17. I had supplied a proper corrective to this.
1792. D. Lloyd, Voy. Life, VII. 150.
| These calm correctives of a Father’s hand | |
| Are meant to make us vigilant and wise. |
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. viii. 499. Patriotism is a corrective of superstition; and the more we feel for our country, the less we feel for our sect.
1882. J. C. Morison, Macaulay, i. 8. His disproportionate partiality for the lighter sides of literature met with no corrective at Cambridge.
3. Something that acts so as to correct what is erroneous or mistaken. (Const. as in 2.)
1854. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Poet. & Imag., Wks. (Bohn), III. 152. The criticism of memory as a corrective to first impressions.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 49. The utilitarian principle is valuable as a corrective of error.
† b. A modification introduced to remove error or inaccuracy; a correction. Obs.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. i. 34. Such an instance … that with certain correctives and exceptions may give some kind of Explication.
1769. Burke, Observ. Late State Nation, Wks. 1842, I. 81. This corrective ought to be applied to all general balances of our trade, which are formed on the ordinary principles.
Hence Correctively adv., in a corrective manner; by way of correction; Correctiveness.
1626. W. Sclater, Expos. 2 Thess. (1629), 282. Rule of moderation correctiuely annexed.
1858. H. Bushnell, Serm. New Life, 374. God will co-work invigoratively, correctively, and directively in all the good struggles of believing souls.
1890. G. M. Fenn, Double Knot, III. VIII. 118. ‘Much’ said Salome correctively.
1836. G. S. Faber, Answ. Husenbeth, 24. Mr. Husenbeth’s organ of critical correctiveness.
