a. [f. L. excurs- ppl. stem of excurrĕre (see EXCUR) + -IVE; very common in 18th c.]
1. a. Of the nature of an excursion; consisting of excursions or sallies (obs. in literal sense). b. Of reading, etc.: Desultory; varied in direction.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., Montpellier, 463. From Montpellier we made an excursive voyage into Provence.
1749. Power Pros. Numbers, 54. Excursive Flights … natural to those who have dealt much in Verse.
1799. S. Turner, Anglo-Sax., I. IV. viii. 321. They made excursive ravages over the adjacent country.
1816. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xxiii. (1828), II. 352. Then resumes its gay excursive flights.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria, II. 60. We are wandering … into excursive speculations.
1848. Southey, Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. I. (1850). Johnson’s excursive reading.
2. a. That makes excursions or sallies in various directions; capable of, or addicted to, varied flights; having a wide range of pursuits or interests. b. Apt to diverge from a definite course; prone to stray, erratic; digressive.
1744. Thomson, Spring, 953. Your eye excursive roams.
1774. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, lxiii. (1840), III. 425. The first [book of Hall’s Satires] is miscellaneous and excursive.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Pope, Wks. IV. 103. An intelligence perpetually on the wing, excursive, vigorous, and diligent.
1816. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xxxv. (1828), III. 644. The order to which the excursive butterfly belongs is the Lepidoptera.
1823. Rutter, Fonthill, 81. That brilliant and excursive genius which created the design.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, Introd. Keeping in the straight road his excursive black cattle.
1838–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. iii. III. § 127. 110. Bacon was sometimes too excursive to sift particulars.
1868. Helps, Realmah, ix. (1876), 256. Do keep to the point, my excursive friends.
