a·bor·tive
adjective/əˈbɔːtɪv/
/əˈbɔːrtɪv/
(formal)- (of an action) not successful; failed
不成功的；失败的 - an abortive military coup
一次流产的军事政变 - abortive attempts to divert the course of the river
河流改道不遂的尝试
Extra ExamplesTopics Difficulty and failurec2- He tried to set up a meeting but his efforts proved abortive.
他试图安排一次会议，但他的努力失败了。 - An attempted reform of the organization proved largely abortive.
事实证明，该组织的改革尝试基本上失败了。 - The companies were involved in an abortive takeover battle.
两家公司卷入了一场失败的收购战。 - There was an abortive attempt to overthrow the government.
有人试图推翻政府，但未成功。
Oxford Collocations DictionaryAbortive is used with these nouns:- attempt
- coup
Word OriginMiddle English (as a noun denoting a stillborn child or animal): via Old French from Latin abortivus, from aboriri ‘miscarry’, from ab- ‘away, from’ + oriri ‘be born’. - an abortive military coup