▪ I. revolute, a.
(ˈrɛvəljuːt)
[ad. L. revolūt-us, pa. pple. of revolvĕre to revolve. Cf. Pg. and It. re-, It. rivoluto, F. révolu.]
† 1. Having completed a full revolution. Obs.—1
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 275 From the xxv. day of December, is complete and finischede un to that tyme the yere revolute. |
2. In scientific use (chiefly Bot.): Rolled backwards, downwards, or outwards.
| 1753 Chambers Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Leaf, Revolute leaf,..a leaf, the upper part of which rolls itself downward. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. i. xii. (1765) 28 Revolute, rowled back, as in Asparagus. 1785 Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxii. (1794) 309 Garden Thyme is an erect plant, with its ovate leaves revolute. 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 318 [Antennæ are] Revolute, when they roll outwards. 1846 Dana Zooph. (1848) 178 Margin of calicle not revolute, subacute. 1876 Harley Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 469 Leaves oblong, linear or lanceolate, entire, when young revolute. |
So ˈrevoluted ppl. a. rare—1.
| 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) III. 447 Revoluted, rolled backwards, having the edges on both sides rolled spirally, so as to be nearly met on the back of the leaf. |
▪ II. † ˈrevolute, v.1 Obs. rare.
[f. ppl. stem of L. revolvĕre.]
trans. and intr. To revolve.
| 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 86 b, Ponderyng, expendyng, and reuolutyng with my self your ingent affabilitee..for mundane affaires. a 1630 Earl Pembroke Poems (1660) 50 Then he frames a second notion From the revoluting eyes. |
▪ III. revolute, v.2
(rɛvəˈljuːt)
[Back-formation from revolution.]
intr. To engage in revolution.
| 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right (1899) 96/2 It looks bad when old Mark Thursby begins to ‘revolute’. 1891 Sat. Rev. 5 Sept. 263/1 It is almost impossible to imagine a better arranged country for ‘revoluting’ in than Chili. 1921 [see bolsh v.]. 1937 Aeroplane 16 June 744/2 Many of the supporters of the Red agitators are merely using Moscow money to ginger up their own Unions, without any intention of revoluting. |