attractive English · revision 4740

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=la attrahere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈtræk.tɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|attractif]], [[bor|frm|attractif|t=having the power to attract]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) itself [[der|la-lat|attractīvus]],^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from attractus, the past participle of Latin attrahere “to draw to”,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from ad “to” and trahere “to draw”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[attract]] and [[traction]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Absorbent, drawing in: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1540 in the OED, a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989) In early medicine it was used of remedies that drew out humours (1547).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Drawing bodies to itself by a physical force, as a magnet does, is from 1603.^(OED 1989) Drawing living beings by influencing them is from 1590,^(OED 1989) the 1580s in Etymonline for drawing people's eye or interest,^(Etymonline) and pleasing or alluring from about 1600 (1602 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – absorbent.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1547 – of medicines, drawing out humours.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590 – drawing people by influence.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1602 – pleasing, alluring.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1603 – exerting physical attraction.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Pleasant to look at, especially sexually appealing; [[good-looking]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Pleasing or interesting enough to make people want it: ''an attractive offer''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having the power to [[attract]], as by [[magnetism]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attractively]]

+ * [[attractiveness]]

+ * [[superattractive]]

+ * [[attractive nuisance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[attract]]

+ * [[attraction]]

+ * [[traction]]

+ * [[tract]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}