Hypertext Webster Gateway: "penetrative"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Penetrative \Pen"e*tra*tive\, a. [Cf. F. p['e]n['e]tratif.]
1. Tending to penetrate; of a penetrating quality; piercing;
as, the penetrative sun.
His look became keen and penetrative. --Hawthorne.
2. Having the power to affect or impress the mind or heart;
impressive; as, penetrative shame. --Shak.
3. Acute; discerning; sagacious; as, penetrative wisdom.
``The penetrative eye.'' --Wordsworth.
Led on by skill of penetrative soul. --Grainger.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
penetrative
adj 1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine
distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and
politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike
reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a
fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative
observations" [syn: {acute}, {discriminating}, {incisive},
{keen}, {knifelike}, {penetrating}, {piercing}, {sharp}]
2: tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or
piercing; "a toxic penetrative spray applied to the
surface"; "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odor"
[syn: {penetrating}]
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