Cumulative

Cumulative
Cumulative Cu"mu*la*tive (k?"m?-l?-t?v), a. [Cf. F. cumulatif.] [1913 Webster] 1. Composed of parts in a heap; forming a mass; aggregated. ``As for knowledge which man receiveth by teaching, it is cumulative, not original.'' --Bacon [1913 Webster]

2. Augmenting, gaining, or giving force, by successive additions; as, a cumulative argument, i. e., one whose force increases as the statement proceeds. [1913 Webster]

The argument . . . is in very truth not logical and single, but moral and cumulative. --Trench. [1913 Webster]

3. (Law) (a) Tending to prove the same point to which other evidence has been offered; -- said of evidence. (b) Given by same testator to the same legatee; -- said of a legacy. --Bouvier. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]

{Cumulative action} (Med.), that action of certain drugs, by virtue of which they produce, when administered in small doses repeated at considerable intervals, the same effect as if given in a single large dose.

{Cumulative poison}, a poison the action of which is cumulative.

{Cumulative vote} or {Cumulative system of voting} (Politics), that system which allows to each voter as many votes as there are persons to be voted for, and permits him to accumulate these votes upon one person, or to distribute them among the candidates as he pleases. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • cumulative — cu·mu·la·tive / kyü myə lə tiv, ˌlā / adj 1: increasing by successive additions 2: tending to prove the same point cumulative testimony 3: following in time Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster …   Law dictionary

  • cumulative — cu‧mu‧la‧tive [ˈkjuːmjlətɪv ǁ leɪtɪv] adjective increasing gradually and having a greater effect as more is added over a period of time: • The state is already saddled with a cumulative deficit of about $73 million. • The company faces… …   Financial and business terms

  • cumulative — cumulative, accumulative, additive, summative are comparable when meaning increasing or produced by the addition of like or assimilable things. Something is cumulative which is constantly increasing or is capable of constant increase (as in size …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cumulative — cumulative, accumulative are both used in the meaning ‘formed or increasing by successive additions’, although cumulative is now more usual (as in cumulative arguments, effect, evidence, force, etc.). Accumulative is however still found, (there… …   Modern English usage

  • cumulative — [kyo͞o′myə lə tiv΄; ] occas. [, kyo͞o′myəlāt΄iv] adj. [see CUMULATE] 1. increasing in effect, size, quantity, etc. by successive additions; accumulated [cumulative interest] 2. taking successive additions into account [a cumulative average] 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • cumulative — (adj.) c.1600, from L. cumulatus, pp. of cumulare to heap, from cumulus heap (see CUMULUS (Cf. cumulus)) + IVE (Cf. ive) …   Etymology dictionary

  • cumulative — [adj] accruing; growing in size or effect accumulative, additive, additory, advancing, aggregate, amassed, augmenting, chain, collective, heaped, heightening, increasing, increscent, intensifying, magnifying, multiplying, snowballing*, summative; …   New thesaurus

  • cumulative — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ increasing or increased by successive additions. DERIVATIVES cumulatively adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • cumulative — adjective Date: 1605 1. a. made up of accumulated parts b. increasing by successive additions 2. tending to prove the same point < cumulative evidence > 3. a. taking effect upon completion of another penal sentence …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cumulative — adj. 1 a increasing or increased in amount, force, etc., by successive additions (cumulative evidence). b formed by successive additions (learning is a cumulative process). 2 Stock Exch. (of shares) entitling holders to arrears of interest before …   Useful english dictionary

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