a. [ L. collectivus: cf. F. collectif. ] 1. Formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into a mass, sum, or body; congregated or aggregated; as, the collective body of a nation. Bp. Hoadley. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring. [ Obs. ] “Critical and collective reason.” Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Gram.) Expressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a singular form; as, a collective name or noun, like assembly, army, jury, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Tending to collect; forming a collection. [ 1913 Webster ] Local is his throne . . . to fix a point,
A central point, collective of his sons. Young. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Having plurality of origin or authority; as, in diplomacy, a note signed by the representatives of several governments is called a collective note. [ 1913 Webster ]
Collective fruit (Bot.), that which is formed from a mass of flowers, as the mulberry, pineapple, and the like; -- called also multiple fruit. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]
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