zoic, a.
(ˈzəʊɪk)
[ad. Gr. ζωικός, f. ζῷον animal; in sense 1 taken as f. ζωή life, after azoic.]
1. Showing traces of life; in Geol., containing organic remains.
| 1863 Dana Man. Geol. 597 If, therefore, these simple species existed in the Azoic era, they were systemless life, and only foreshadowed the great systems of life which were afterwards displayed..in the true Zoic ages. 1885–6 Rep. U.S. Geol. Survey (1888) 453 These great Pre-Cambrian and Post-Archæan series are zoic in character. |
2. Of the nature of an animal; animal.
| 1895–6 W. J. M{supc}Gee in 17th Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethnol. (1898) 169* The Seri face-painting would seem to be essentially zoosematic, or symbolic of zoic tutelaries. 1900 Ann. Rep. Smithsonian Inst. 63 The use of zoic motives in the decoration of primitive weapons. |