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Webster 1913 Edition


Cumulative

Cu′mu-la-tive

(k?′m?-l?-t?v)
,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
cumulatif
.]
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
2.
Augmenting, gaining, or giving force, by successive additions;
as, a
cumulative
argument, i. e., one whose force increases as the statement proceeds
.
The argument . . . is in very truth not logical and single, but moral and
cumulative
.
Trench.
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.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Cumulative

CUMULATIVE

,
Adj.
1.
Composed of parts in a heap; forming a mass.
2.
That augments by addition; that is added to something else. In law, that augments, as evidence, facts or arguments of the same kind.

Definition 2024


cumulative

cumulative

English

Adjective

cumulative (comparative more cumulative, superlative most cumulative)

  1. Incorporating all current and previous data up to the present or at the time of measuring or collating
  2. That is formed by an accumulation of successive additions
    • Francis Bacon
      As for knowledge which man receiveth by teaching, it is cumulative, not original.
    • Trench
      The argument [] is in very truth not logical and single, but moral and cumulative.
  3. That tends to accumulate
  4. (finance) Having priority rights to receive a dividend that accrue until paid

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ky.my.la.tiv/

Adjective

cumulative

  1. feminine singular of cumulatif

Italian

Adjective

cumulative

  1. feminine plural of cumulativo