▪ I. gestate, a.
(ˈdʒɛsteɪt)
[ad. L. gestāt-us, pa. pple. of gestāre: see next.]
In course of gestation.
| 1854 S. Dobell Balder xxiv. 169 The gendering caves and secrets where thy spring Is gestate, and the summer yet to be Seethes dark. |
▪ II. gestate, v.
(ˈdʒɛsteɪt, -ˈsteɪt)
[f. L. gestāt-, ppl. stem of gestāre to carry, to go with young.]
trans. To carry in the womb during the period between conception and birth. Also fig.
| 1866 Pall Mall G. 31 May 1 There are mammals..whose progeny leave the womb half gestated. 1886 T. Frost Remin. Country Journalist x. (1888) 116 [His] mind was then gestating a work of the most original character. |
Add: [1.] b. absol. or intr. Also fig.
| 1883 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 17 Mar. 502/1 The smaller tapir, which has recently bred in the Gardens, is believed to gestate for double this period. a 1961 in Webster s.v., Refusing to write a word of the proposed novel, the author declared that he was gestating. 1975 in Cleese & Booth Compl. Fawlty Towers (1988) 18 Did you know that a female gibbon gestates for seven months? |
2. intr. To develop in the womb; also fig., to approach completion or maturity.
| 1966 in Random House Dict. 1976 Church Times 3 Dec. 7/1 He soothed his chagrin at the non-arrival of a son (one did eventually gestate) by giving the baby the female equivalent of his own name. 1983 Times 12 Mar. 3/1 The proposals..have been gestating in the Department of Education and Science for the past year. 1984 Economist 14 July 81/3 The embryo formed in this way must still implant and gestate in a woman's womb. |
Hence geˈstating ppl. a., undergoing or engaged in the process of gestation.
| 1961 Amer. Zoologist I. 389/2 We studied the effect of EAT [sc. Ehrlich ascites tumour] transplants on the mammary duct epithelium of gestating and lactating mice. Ibid., In contradistinction to the stimulation of the gestating gland by the EAT, there was no significant effect of the tumor on the lactating gland. 1987 Oil & Gas Jrnl. 25 May 17/2 How many military engagements will the U.S. undertake to keep rigs out of view of California condominium owners and gestating Porcupine caribou? |