plausive

English

Etymology

From Latin plaus-, from Latin plaudere (“to applaud”) +‎ -ive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplɔːzɪv/

Adjective

plausive (comparative more plausive, superlative most plausive)

1. (rare) Laudable, praisable.
2. (obsolete) Applauding; showing praise.
   • 1742–1745, [Edward Young], The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: […] [Samuel Richardson] for A[ndrew] Millar […], and R[obert] Dodsley […], published 1750, →OCLC:

     With her soft plume (from plausive angels' wing
     First pluck'd by man)

3. (obsolete) Plausible (obtaining approbation), specious (having an attractive appearance intended to obtain a favorable response).
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:

     plausive manners

   • 1915, On Staying at Home: And Other Essays, page 41:

     But the weak have had to put on the armour of cunning to protect themselves from the strong and brutal. […] These plausive manners which recommend you to your fellow-men are indeed a natural mimicry, a putting on, as it were, the mood of those you are among, and the deprecation of the aggression of the strong. For the strong is not only strong but domineering, and it behoves the weak to have these plausive manners as a sure defence.

References

“plausive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.