consumptive

adj

1. Having a tendency to consume; dissipating; destructive; wasteful.

   “a long consumptive war”

   “[O]n ſome occaſions, he diſplayed all his fund of good humour, vvith a vievv to beguile her ſorrovv; he importuned her to give him the pleasure of ’ſquiring her to ſome place of innocent entertainment; and, finally, inſiſted upon her accepting a pecuniary reinforcement to her finances, vvhich he knevv to be in a moſt conſumptive condition.”

2. Of or relating to consumption.
3. Relating to pulmonary tuberculosis.

   “consumptive cough”

   “The lean, conſumptive, wench, with coughs decay'd, / Is call'd a pretty, tight, and ſlender maid.”

noun

1. A person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

   “The consumptive has managed to shake the servant from her side and walks alone, striving to make it look easy.”