# accessive

CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accessive
Updated: 2026-06-22

## Definition

describing something that is extra or more than what is needed. It is an old word that people do not use much today.

For teachers: excessive or superfluous in amount or degree. Primarily found in archaic or literary contexts; rarely used in modern general discourse.

## Examples

- The old text used accessive words to fill the page.
- The author was criticized for his accessive use of adjectives, which made the prose feel heavy and difficult to follow.
- In the margins of the manuscript, the scribe noted that the accessive details were likely added by a later hand to embellish the original narrative.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.