lacteous, a.
(ˈlæktiːəs)
[f. L. lacte-us (see lacteal) + -ous.]
1. Of the nature of milk; milky.
| 1646 [see lactary a.]. 1666 J. Smith Old Age (ed. 2) 174 There is a lacteous, and a caseous part therein. 1696 J. Edwards Demonstr. Existence God ii. 101 Others reckon it to be a lacteous excrement. |
| fig. 1870 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 188 Professors who were forever assiduously browsing in vales of Enna..slowly secreting lacteous facts. |
2. Resembling milk; of the colour of milk. † lacteous circle: the Milky Way. † lacteous star: one belonging to the Milky Way.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. xii. 211 Though we leave out the Lacteous circle..yet [etc.]. 1669 W. Simpson Hydrol. Chym. 278 The lacteous cremor or milky juyce. 1677 Plot Oxfordsh. 48 Two small and very weak springs, of a lacteous colour but no such tast. 1682 Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. iii. §24 Numerous numbers must be content to stand like lacteous or nebulous Stars. 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 278 Lacteous (lacteus), white with a slight tint of blue. |
† 3. = lacteal a. 2. Obs.
| 1692 Bentley Boyle Lect. iii. 8 The Lungs are suitable for Respiration,..the Lacteous Vessels for the Reception of the Chyle. |
Hence ˈlacteously adv., in a lacteous manner (Webster, 1864).