invasive
/ɪnˈveɪsɪv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.69 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or pertaining to invasion; offensive.
adj
That invades a foreign country using military force; also, militarily aggressive.
adj
adj
Of an organism: that grows (especially uncontrollably) in environments which do not harbour natural enemies, often to the detriment of native species or of food or garden flora and fauna.
Example Sentences
- "The Spanyards called their invaſive fleete againſt England the Navie Invincible, yet it was overcome."
- "Oh inglorious league: / Shall we vpon the footing of our land, / Send fayre-play-orders, and make comprimiſe, / Inſinuation, parley, and baſe truce / To Armes Inuaſiue?"
- "[…] The Parliaments Forces, neither would, nor lawfully might in point of Law or Conſcience forcibly reſiſt or repulſe their invaſive Armes, without danger or High Treaſon and Rebellion, […]"
- "[T]he Sheriffe, or any of his Officers, for the better execution of Juſtice, may carry handguns or other weapons invaſive or defenſive, […]"
- "He managed to get back Lorraine; made truce with the Hungarians, who were excessively invasive at that time. Truce with the Hungarians; and then, having gathered strength, made dreadful beating of them; two beatings,—one to each half, for the invasive Savagery had split itself, for better chance of plunder; […]"
- "It's wrong of me to ask such an invasive question when I keep so many secrets hidden from you."
Etymology
PIE word *h₁én The adjective is derived from Middle English invasif (“of a weapon: offensive”), from Middle French invasif, Old French invasif (“invasive”) (modern French invasif), from Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from Latin invāsus (“entered; invaded”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Invāsus is the perfect passive participle of invādō (“to enter; to invade”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’) + vādō (“to go; to rush; to walk”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂dʰ- (“to go, proceed; to pass, traverse”)). The noun is derived from the adjective.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/
- British English: /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/