Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Collective
Col-lect′ive
,Adj.
[L.
collectivus
: cf. F. collectif
.] 1.
Formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into a mass, sum, or body; congregated or aggregated;
as, the
. collective
body of a nationBp. Hoadley.
2.
Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring.
[Obs.]
“Critical and collective reason.” Sir T. Browne.
3.
(Gram.)
Expressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a singular form;
as, a
collective
name or noun, like assembly
, army
, jury
, etc.4.
Tending to collect; forming a collection.
Local is his throne . . . to fix a point,
A central point,
A central point,
collective
of his sons. Young.
5.
Having plurality of origin or authority;
as, in diplomacy, a note signed by the representatives of several governments is called a
. collective
noteCollective fruit
(Bot.)
, that which is formed from a mass of flowers, as the mulberry, pineapple, and the like; – called also
multiple fruit
. Gray.
Col-lect′ive
,Noun.
(Gram.)
A collective noun or name.
Webster 1828 Edition
Collective
COLLECTIVE
, a.1.
Formed by gathering; gathered into a mass, sum, or body; congregated, or aggregated.2.
Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring.3.
In grammar, expressing an number or multitude united; as a collective noun or name, which, though in the singular number itself, denotes more than one; as, company, army, troop, assembly.