embryon, n. (a.)
(ˈɛmbrɪɒn)
Also 5–8 embrion. Pl. embrya, embryons.
[mod.L., a. Gr. ἔµβρυον, in Homer merely ‘young animal’, but in later writers ‘the fruit of the womb before birth’. Usually believed to be f. ἐν in + βρύ-ειν to swell, grow.]
The original form of embryo; now rare even in techn. use; in ordinary language obs.
1. = embryo 1. † a. of man. Obs.
| [1477 Norton Ord. Alch. v. in Ashm. (1652) 90 Passing the Substance of Embrion.] 1592 H. Chettle in Greene Groatsw. Wit Pref., Like an Embrion without shape. 1653 A. Wilson Jas. I 77 This was but an Embrion, and became an Abortive. 1721 Southerne Loyal Brother iii. Wks. I. 44 Rip this womb That form'd him yet an embrion. 1804 Abernethy Surg. Observ. 11 The embryon..receives nourishment from the surrounding parts. |
b. of animals.
| 1658 Rowland tr. Moufet's Theat. Ins. 922 Certain imperfect things like Embryons or little worms. 1672 Phil. Trans. VII. 4020 The Sceleton of an Embryon..in an Egg. 1713 J. Warder True Amazons 19 Which otherwise would incommode the Embrion [of bees]. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. v. 90 The animalcula and embrya. 1880 Günther Fishes 318 Cantor found in a female, nearly 11 feet long, 37 embryons. |
2. Bot. = embryo 2. In quot. fig.
| 1816 Coleridge Statesm. Man. (1817) 355 Looking forward to the green fruits and embryons..of the days to come. |
† 3. fig. = embryo 4. in (the) embryon: = in embryo. Obs.
| 1596 Drayton Leg. iv. 167 To perfect that which in the Embryon was. 1607 W. Barksted Mirrha (1876) 37 To bring vices Embrion to a forme. 1639 G. Daniel Ecclus. xxiv. 27, I was, ere yet the world in Embrion lay. 1640 J. Ley Patt. Pietie 157 Shee had certaine fits or traunces like the embrions of death. 1676 Phil. Trans. XI. 614 The first Beings or Embrions of mineral salts are nothing but vapours. 1788 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 431 It is yet, indeed, a mere embryon. 1812 Shelley Let. in Dowden Shelley (1886) I. 230, I perceive in you the embryon of a mighty intellect. |
† 4. attrib. or adj. Immature, unformed, undeveloped; that is still in germ. Obs.
| 1616 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iv, The Embrion Blossome of each spray. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 900 Four Champions fierce..to Battel bring thir embryon Atoms. 1728 Vanbrugh & Cibber Provoked Husb. Prol. 26 If..his Art can to those Embrion Scenes new Life impart. 1813 Sir. H. Davy Agric. Chem. (1814) 140 Nourishment..for the use of the Embryon plant. 1835 Greswell Parables v. ii. 411 All nature's embryon store. |