from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Descriptive \De*scrip"tive\, a. [L. descriptivus: cf. F.
descriptif.]
Tending to describe; having the quality of representing;
containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a
descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story
descriptive of the age.
[1913 Webster]
{Descriptive anatomy}, that part of anatomy which treats of
the forms and relations of parts, but not of their
textures.
{Descriptive geometry}, that branch of geometry. which treats
of the graphic solution of problems involving three
dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes.
--Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ) -- {De*scrip"tive*ly}, adv.
-- {De*scrip"tive*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]