animalculous

English

Etymology

From animalcule +‎ -ous.

Adjective

animalculous (not comparable)

  1. (archaic) Relating to animalcules.
    • 1772, George Alexander Stevens, “Song LXXIII. The Comet”, in Songs, Comic, and Satyrical, second edition, Oxford: Printed by the Author. Sold by J. Waller, [] G. Robinson, [] and F. Newbery, page 137:
      Like the blue on a plumb, are but Inſects you know, / A mere Animalculous Duſt
    • 1776, N[ikolai].D[etlef]. Falck, M.D., A Treatise on the Medical Qualities of Mercury. In Three Parts, London: Sold by B. Law, page 22:
      now an anthelminthic is any thing that will deſtroy worms and animalculous vermin; that is to ſay, it will deſtroy life in minute animals
    • 1879, W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, composer, “[Major-General's Song]”, in The Pirates of Penzance  [], Philadelphia: J.M. Stoddart & Co., published 1880, →OCLC, page 16:
      I'm very good at integral and differential calculus; / I know the scientific names of beings animalculous;