a. and sb. [f. as prec. + -IVE.]
A. adj. Tending to counteract.
1805. Foster, Ess., I. iii. 45. Circumstances … of an entirely counteractive order.
1880. M. Collins, Th. in Garden, I. 89. The innumerable counteractive and constructive agencies.
b. analytically. Active in opposition. nonce-use.
1847. L. Hunt, Men, Women, & B., I. iii. 40. It only made him … look extremely counter-active and frowning.
B. sb. A counteracting agent or force.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., III. xxiv. § 5. It must … meet all drains by counteractives more or less strong.
1865. Masson, Rec. Brit. Philos., 54. Benthamism in Britain would have had no adequate counteractive.
Hence Counteractively adv.
1864. in Webster.
