adj
depressive
dih-PREH-sihv
adj
1
Relating to or causing depression.
"She was treated for a depressive episode that lasted several months."
noun
1
A person who experiences depression.
"Support groups can be a lifeline for depressives coping alone."
How to Use Depressive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something connected to depression, or (less commonly now) a person who suffers from it.
When to use it
Using "a depressive" to label a person is now considered old-fashioned or clinical; "someone with depression" is more common today.
Word Forms
more depressive comparative, depressives plural, most depressive superlative
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She was treated for a _____ episode that lasted several months.
Etymology
From French depressif or Medieval Latin depressivus, built on depress + -ive.