polychotomous, a.
(pɒlɪˈkɒtəməs)
[Erroneously formed by substituting poly- for di- in dicho-tomous, dichotomous.]
Divided, or involving division, into many (or more than two) parts, sections, groups, or branches: = polytomous. So polyˈchotomy, division into more than two parts or groups, as in classification: = polytomy.
| 1858 Mayne Expos. Lex., Polychotomus, applied to a body that is divided into numerous articulations..: polychotomous. 1887 Amer. Naturalist Oct. 915 Polychotomy is probably never more than provisional, and all classification will eventually be dichotomous. |