morphosis
(mɔːˈfəʊsɪs)
Pl. morphoses (mɔːˈfəʊsiːz).
[mod.L., a. Gr. µόρϕωσις a shaping, f. µορϕοῦν to shape, fashion, f. µορϕή form.]
† 1. Form, figure, configuration. Obs.
| 1675 Sir E. Sherburne tr. Manilius Pref. 3 As they [the Constellations] are distinguished into prophane and Sacred Figures or Morphoses according to the different Uranography of the Antient Ethnicks. 1676 Owen Nat. Apostasy ii. 115 Instead of that Mystical spiritual Union with himself and among themselves which Christ prayed for, and purchased for his Disciples, they have substituted the Morphosis or Mormo of an Agreement in professing Subjection to the Pope of Rome. |
2. Bot. The manner or order of development of an organ or organism.
| 1857 M. J. Berkeley Cryptog. Bot. §94. 114 The morphosis of the production has not yet been properly observed. 1874 R. Brown Man. Bot. 609 Morphosis, order or mode of development of any organ or organs. |
b. Used for metamorphosis. (Cf. sense 3.)
| 1882 G. Maw in Jrnl. Linn. Soc., Bot XIX. 370 The only other point I have to refer to is the tendency to morphosis of nearly every part of a Crocus. 1886 ― Monogr. Crocus 19 Morphosis. Nearly every organ of a Crocus has a strong tendency to metamorphosis. |
3. Med. A morbid formation; organic disease.
| 1856 in Mayne Epos. Lex. 1891 in Syd. Soc. Lex. |