English edit

Etymology edit

From the stem of Latin effundēre +‎ -ive, from ex- (out of) +‎ fundō (pour), 1660s.[1]

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɪˈfjuːsɪv/
    • (file)

Adjective edit

effusive (comparative more effusive, superlative most effusive)

  1. Gushy; unrestrained, extravagant or excessive (in emotional expression).
    • 1997, David Foster Wallace, “A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again”, in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, Kindle edition, Little, Brown Book Group:
      All week I’ve found myself doing everything I can to distance myself in the crew’s eyes from the bovine herd I’m part of, to somehow unimplicate myself: I eschew cameras and sunglasses and pastel Caribbeanwear; I make a big deal of carrying my own cafeteria tray and am effusive in my thanks for the slightest service.
    • 2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 47:
      While he is reasonably effusive about inter-city travel, he is heavily disparaging of all types of stopping service, including those on otherwise busy main lines. His analysis is not entirely unsound, and he tackles some of the questions head on.
  2. (archaic) Pouring, spilling out freely; overflowing.
  3. (geology, of igneous rock) Extrusive; having solidified after being poured out as molten lava.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “effusive”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Italian edit

Adjective edit

effusive

  1. feminine plural of effusivo