abortive: Meaning and Definition of

a•bor•tive

1. failing to succeed; unsuccessful: an abortive rebellion; an abortive scheme.
2. born prematurely.
3. imperfectly developed; rudimentary.
1. producing or intended to produce abortion; abortifacient.
2. acting to halt progress of a disease.
5. (of the course of a disease) short and mild without the usual, pronounced clinical symptoms.
6. (of seeds or pollen grains) imperfect; unable to germinate.