menstrual, a. and n.
(ˈmɛnstrʊəl)
[a. F. menstruel, ad. L. mēnstruāl-is, f. mēnstru-us, mēnstru-um: see menstruum and -al1.]
A. adj.
1. Monthly; happening once in a month, varying in monthly periods. Now only Astr., esp. in menstrual parallax, the difference produced by the moon in the apparent position of the sun and the primary planets.
| 1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 2 The causes both of these cotidian, menstruall, annuall, and other the rarest mutations.., are attributed to the celestiall motions. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 187 Any Thing we have here alledg'd concerning these Menstrual Periods. 1665 Wallis in Phil. Trans. I. 286 There is no other connexion between the Moon's motion and the Tydes Menstrual period, than a casual Synchronism. 1768 Smeaton Ibid. LVIII. 157 The difference thus produced in the apparent place of the Sun..may..be..called the menstrual parallax. 1780 Herschel Ibid. LXXI. 116 We have..no cause to suspect any very material periodical irregularity, either diurnal, menstrual, or annual. 1823 J. Mitchell Dict. Math. & Phys. Sci. 343 Menstrual Parallax of the Sun is [etc.]. 1833 Herschel Treat. Astron. §451 (1839) 289 An apparent monthly displacement of the sun..which is called the menstrual equation. 1872 O. Shipley Gloss. Eccl. Terms s.v. Epact, It [an Epact] is therefore both annual and menstrual. |
b. Lasting or extending over a month; esp. Bot. of a plant, remaining in bloom or foliage for a month (Treas. Bot. 1866).
2. Of or pertaining to the catamenia.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P. R. vi. vii. (1495) 194 The moders wombe is fedde wyth blode menstruall. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. ii. 152 Some..do to lewdly ask, whether we will say that Christ was engendred of the menstruall sede of the Virgin. 1607 Topsell Hist. Four-f. Beasts (1658) 308 Aristotle and others do not let to write, that menstrual bloud doth naturally void from the Mare. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 92 A Provoker of the menstrual Discharges. 1876 J. S. Bristowe Theory & Pract. Med. (1878) 885 Inflammation..is most apt to occur during the menstrual period. 1896 Allbutt & Playfair Gynæcology 367 It may continue during the menstrual life of the patient. |
† b. Suffering from ailments connected with menstruation. Obs.
| 1669 W. Simpson Hydrol. Chym. 73 An hysterical (or I rather think menstrual) woman. |
† 3. Of parts of the body: Produced from the menstrual blood of the mother; opposed to spermatical. Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §58 Some Entrails..are hard to repaire: though that Diuision of Spermaticall, and Menstruall Parts, be but a Conceit. |
† 4. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a menstruum. Obs.
| 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. Pref., in Ashm. (1652) 126 Understond thy Water menstruall. |
B. n.
† 1. pl. = catamenia. Obs.
| 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 12 b/1 We apply the boxes to suscitate the menstrualles of women. 1599 ― tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 135/1 It helpeth woemen when their menstrualles flowe to superfluouslye. |
† 2. Alch. The ‘menstrual’ element (see A. 4, and cf. A. 3, and note s.v. menstruum) supposed to be added to metal in the process of its conversion into gold. Obs.
| 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. Pref., in Ashm. (1652) 125 For invysible ys truly thys Menstruall. 1477 Norton Ordin. Alch. v. Ibid. 90 The seminall seed Masculine, Hath wrought and won the Victory, Upon the menstrualls worthily. |