a. [ad. med.L. susceptīvus (Thomas Aquinas), f. suscept-, suscipĕre: see prec. and -IVE. Cf. It. suscettivo, Sp. susceptivo.]
1. Having the quality of taking or receiving, receptive; in later use esp. disposed to receive and be affected by impressions (= SUSCEPTIBLE 2 a).
1548–77. Vicary, Anat., ix. (1888), 77. The Matrix in woman … is an instrument susceptiue, that is to say, a thing recey[u]ing or taking.
1641. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., 22 Oct. xii. 41. We neither had a decisive voyce … nor a deliberative voyce … nor lastly … a susceptive voice, in a body of our own to receive their resolutions.
1674. Petty, Disc. Dupl. Proportion, 130. I might suppose … that Atoms are also Male and Female, and the Active and Susceptive Principles of all things.
1788. D. Gilson, Serm., viii. 223. All the tender workings of the susceptive breast of Mary.
1802. Corry, Mem. A. Berkeley, 47. This accidental interview made a still deeper impression on the susceptive heart of Lucy.
1863. J. G. Murphy, Comm. Gen. xi. 21–2. The susceptive and conceptive powers of the understanding.
1874. Motley, John of Barneveld, II. xxii. 404. Impressible, emotional, and susceptive.
1887. Sir A. De Vere, Ess. Poetry, I. 105. He will listen, with the susceptive faith of youth.
2. With of: Having the quality of receiving, disposed or ready to receive (something specified); receptive of; admitting of; affected by, sensitive to: = SUSCEPTIBLE 1.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., III. iv. 68. They belong to the substance of the worship, and withall are susceptive of coadoration.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., IV. viii. (1677), 367. He becomes a Creature properly susceptive of a Law, and capable of Rewards and Punishments.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. Rom. xii. 18, Wks. 1687, I. 399. It incenses the people (hugely susceptive of provocation) with a sense of notable injury done. Ibid., Serm. Eph. i. 13, ibid. II. 201. As mankind is naturally susceptive of religious impressions.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. (1724), 78. [Matter] is passive … to the impressions of motion, and susceptive of it.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), II. 588. Rendering the body more susceptive of the ordinary causes of this disease.
1872. Morley, Voltaire, 95. The nature that is susceptive of passion.
1901. G. Tyrrell, in Life (1912), II. iii. 95. Like a wheelbarrow, I am not susceptive of sustained impetus.
† b. Taking or including within its scope; relative to. Obs. rare–1.
1681. J. Owen, Eng. Evang. Ch., xi. 221. The Object of it [sc. discipline], as it is Susceptive of Members, is professed Believers; and as it is corrective, it is those who stubbornly deviate from the Rule of Christ.
Hence Susceptiveness = next.
1873. M. Arnold, Lit. & Dogma (1876), 157. Men raised by a truer moral susceptiveness above their countrymen.
1907. Edin. Rev., Jan., 204. Our insular susceptiveness.
