a. [f. L. effūs- (see EFFUSE a.) + -IVE as if ad. L. effūsīvus.]
† 1. That proceeds from a pouring out. Obs.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXII. 490. The floor Wash’d with th’ effusive wave.
1791. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. III. 1781. With fine films … Of oil effusive lull the waves to sleep.
2. Of emotions, affections, etc.: Overflowing, irrepressible; in mod. use, demonstratively expressed.
1662. H. More, Enthus. Tri., Scholia (1712), 52. The innocence of his private Life, and his most effusive Charity and Humanity.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, in Cornh. Mag., VII. 304. Tito could only be saved from alienation by … a recovery of her effusive tenderness.
3. That expresses feeling demonstratively.
1863. Mrs. Oliphant, Salem Chapel, xxi. 12. A very effusive hymn … an utterance of unmitigated thanksgiving.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, I. 358. Peel … was not effusive; he did not pour out his emotions.
4. That has the function of giving outlet to emotion. rare.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., III. iv. § 27 (1864), 622. In the purely effusive arts, such as music or the dance, truth and nature are totally irrelevant.
Hence Effusively adv., in an effusive manner. Effusiveness, the quality of being effusive.
1870. Daily News, 22 July, 3/2. You came upon damsels,… who giggled and talked effusively by the wayside.
1877. ‘H. A. Page,’ De Quincey, I. iii. 46. The enthusiastic effusiveness of these lines.
1880. Mrs. Forrester, Roy & V., I. 40. Netta embraced her effusively.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 529. None of the tender effusiveness and earnest praise which we have been hearing.
