Constructive

Constructive
Constructive Con*struct"ive, a. [Cf. F. constructif.] 1. Having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as, to exhibit constructive power. [1913 Webster]

The constructive fingers of Watts. --Emerson. [1913 Webster]

2. Derived from, or depending on, construction, inference, or interpretation; not directly expressed, but inferred. [1913 Webster]

3. helpful; promoting improvement; intended to help; as, constructive criticism; constructive suggestions. Contrasted with {destructive}. [PJC]

{Constructive crimes} (Law), acts having effects analogous to those of some statutory or common law crimes; as, constructive treason. Constructive crimes are no longer recognized by the courts.

{Constructive notice}, notice imputed by construction of law.

{Constructive trust}, a trust which may be assumed to exist, though no actual mention of it be made. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • constructive — con·struc·tive /kən strək tiv/ adj: created by a legal fiction: as a: inferred by a judicial construction or interpretation b: not actual but implied by operation of the law made a constructive entry when he refused to take the opportunity for a… …   Law dictionary

  • constructive — UK US /kənˈstrʌktɪv/ adjective ► useful and likely or intended to improve something: »a constructive dialogue/discussion/meeting »Listening to constructive criticism of certain aspects of your work should help you to make the most of your… …   Financial and business terms

  • constructive — in general use means ‘helpful, positive’, as in constructive criticism. In this meaning it is the opposite of destructive. In legal language it is often applied to ‘what in the eye of the law amounts to the act or condition specified’ (OED), and… …   Modern English usage

  • constructive — [kən struk′tiv] adj. [ML constructivus] 1. helping to construct; leading to improvements or advances; formative; positive [constructive criticism] 2. of construction or structure 3. inferred or implied by legal or judicial interpretation… …   English World dictionary

  • constructive — early 15c., derived by interpretation, from M.Fr. constructif or from M.L. constructivus, from L. construct , pp. stem of construere to heap up (see CONSTRUCTION (Cf. construction)). Meaning pertaining to construction is from 1817; having the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • constructive — *implicit, virtual Analogous words: inferential, ratiocinative (see under INFERENCE): implied, involved (see INCLUDE) Antonyms: manifest Contrasted words: express, *explicit, definite: *evident, patent, obvious …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • constructive — [adj] helpful effective, positive, practical, productive, useful, valuable; concept 401 Ant. destructive, hurting, injurious, negative, unhelpful …   New thesaurus

  • constructive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) serving a useful purpose. 2) Law derived by inference; not stated explicitly. DERIVATIVES constructively adverb constructiveness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • constructive — That which is established by the mind of the law in its act of construing facts, conduct, circumstances, or instruments. That which has not the character assigned to it in its own essential nature, but acquires such character in consequence of… …   Black's law dictionary

  • constructive — That which is established by the mind of the law in its act of construing facts, conduct, circumstances, or instruments. That which has not the character assigned to it in its own essential nature, but acquires such character in consequence of… …   Black's law dictionary

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