Skip to content

restorative

adjective

  1. serving to restore
L41944 on Wikidata ↗

noun

  1. something that restores
L41945 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈstɒɹətɪv/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English restoratif, restoratyve, from Old French restoratif, restauratif and Medieval Latin restaurātīvus. Equivalent to restore + -ative.

  1. Serving to restore.

    After a long day working in the fields Clarence took comfort in a restorative pint of beer.

    Destroys life's enemy, / Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English restoratif, restoratyve, from Old French restoratif, restauratif and Medieval Latin restaurātīvus. Equivalent to restore + -ative.

  1. Something with restoring properties.

    Marianne’s joy was almost a degree beyond happiness, so great was the perturbation of her spirits and her impatience to be gone. Her unwillingness to quit her mother was her only restorative to calmness; and at the moment of parting her grief on that score was excessive.

    For Louis XIV's advancing age, a drink consisting of sugar, distilled spirits, and orange water was recommended as a restorative of vigor.

  2. An alcoholic drink, especially with tonic.

    “Well, let's hope you're right, darling. In the meantime,” said Kipper, “if I don't get that whisky-and-soda soon, I shall disintegrate. Would you mind if I went in search of it, Mrs Travers?” “It's the very thing I was about to suggest myself. Dash along and drink your fill, my unhappy young stag at eve.” “I'm feeling rather like a restorative, too,” said Bobbie. “Me also,” I said, swept along on the tide of the popular movement. “Though I would advise,” I said, when we were outside, “making it port. More authority.”