a. [f. L. ēmiss- ppl. stem of ēmittĕ-re to send forth, EMIT + -IVE.]
1. Having power to emit; radiating.
1870. T. L. Phipson, trans. Guillemin’s Sun, 236. A homogeneous gaseous mass … having a radiating or emissive power.
1881. Prof. Stokes, in Nature, No. 625. 596. The … body of the sun … is comparatively feebly emissive of light.
b. Emissive theory: = Emission theory.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 63. The emissive, and the undulatory theory of light.
1842. W. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces (1850), 64. The emissive or corpuscular theory.
† 2. That is emitted; that is sent or flows forth. Obs. rare.
16[?]. R. Loveday, Letters (1663), 201. Thus their emissive venome … will fatally recoyl upon themselves.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 126. Freely … she distributes the bounty of her emissive sweets.
1738. H. Brooke, Tasso, I. 17 (R.).
| But soon a Beam, emissive from above, | |
| Shed mental Day, and touch’d the Heart with Love. |
