alterative

3 definitions found

alterative - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Alterative \Al"ter*a*tive\, n.
     A medicine or treatment which gradually induces a change, and
     restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations.
     [1913 Webster]

  Alterative \Al"ter*a*tive\, a. [L. alterativus: cf. F.
     alt['e]ratif.]
     Causing ateration. Specifically: Gradually changing, or
     tending to change, a morbid state of the functions into one
     of health. --Burton.
     [1913 Webster]

alterative - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  alterative
      adj 1: tending to cure or restore to health; "curative powers of
             herbal remedies"; "her gentle healing hand"; "remedial
             surgery"; "a sanative environment of mountains and fresh
             air"; "a therapeutic agent"; "therapeutic diets" [syn:
             curative, healing(p), alterative, remedial,
             sanative, therapeutic]