attractive
Pronunciation
- IPA: /əˈtræk.tɪv/[1]
Etymology
It is inherited from Middle English attractif, borrowed from Middle French attractif (“having the power to attract”),[2][3] itself from Late Latin attractīvus,[3][4] from attractus, the past participle of Latin attrahere “to draw to”,[2][4] from ad “to” and trahere “to draw”.[2] It is related to attract and traction.[2][4]
Earliest recorded meaning
Absorbent, drawing in: the late 14th century in Etymonline,[2] 1540 in the OED, a sense now obsolete.[5] In early medicine it was used of remedies that drew out humours (1547).[5]
Semantic evolution
Drawing bodies to itself by a physical force, as a magnet does, is from 1603.[5] Drawing living beings by influencing them is from 1590,[5] the 1580s in Etymonline for drawing people's eye or interest,[2] and pleasing or alluring from about 1600 (1602 in the OED).[2][5]
Timeline
- late 14th century – absorbent.[2]
- 1547 – of medicines, drawing out humours.[5]
- 1590 – drawing people by influence.[5]
- 1602 – pleasing, alluring.[5]
- 1603 – exerting physical attraction.[5]
Modern meaning
Adjective
- Pleasant to look at, especially sexually appealing; good-looking.
- Pleasing or interesting enough to make people want it: an attractive offer.
- Having the power to attract, as by magnetism.
Word family
- attractively
- attractiveness
- superattractive
- attractive nuisance
Related words
- attract
- attraction
- traction
- tract
References
- ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press