Obs. Forms: 6–7 corsive, 7 cor’sive, coarsive, cor’zive. [A syncopated form of corrĕsive, CORROSIVE.]
A. adj. = CORROSIVE a. (lit. and fig.)
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 25. There is no sorrowe … but continuance of time may assuage the bitternes therof, and consume the corsive eating of the same.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., I. iii. Your cor’siue waters.
B. sb. 1. = CORROSIVE sb. 2.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 76 b. Surgions lay Corsiues to any wounde, to eate out the dead-flesh.
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, IV. xiv. Who still apply’d strong Cor’sives to the wound.
1640. Brome, Sparagus Gard., I. v. Sharpe incisions, scarings, and cruel Corsives.
2. fig. = CORROSIVE sb. 3.
1564. Becon, Flower Godly Prayers, Prayers (1844), 69. Let the law be no corsive to his conscience.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. III. xii. That which is their greatest corsiue, they are in continual suspition, feare, and distrust.
1669. Cokaine, Poems, 112. So old Petronius Arbiter applied Corsives unto the age he did deride.
