▪ I. teleo-1
(ˈtɛliːəʊ)
before a vowel tele-, repr. Gr. τελεο- (τελειο-), combining form of τέλεος, τέλειος perfect, complete, f. τέλος end: employed in Eng. in some scientific terms. teleobranchiate (-ˈbræŋkɪət), Zool. [Gr. βράγχια gills], a. belonging to the division Teleobranchia of gastropod molluscs, having the respiratory organs specially developed; n. a gastropod of this division. teleocephalous (-ˈsɛfələs) a., Ichth. [Gr. κεϕαλή head], belonging to the order Teleocephali of teleostean fishes, having the full number of bones in the skull; so teleoˈcephal, a teleocephalous fish. teleodesmacean (-dɛsˈmeɪʃ(ɪ)ən), Zool. [Gr. δεσµός band], a. belonging to the group Teleodesmacea (Amer. Jrnl. Sc. Dec. 1889) of bivalve molluscs, having a specially developed hinge to the shell; n. a mollusc of this group. ˈteleodont (-əʊdɒnt) a., Entom. [Gr. ὀδούς, ὀδοντ- tooth], applied to that form of the mandibles in stag-beetles in which the projections or ‘teeth’ are most highly developed. ˈteleophyte (-faɪt), Biol. [Gr. ϕύτον plant], a plant of perfect or complete organization; one of the higher plants. teleoptile (-ˈɒptɪl, -aɪl), Ornith. [Gr. πτίλον down-feather], one of the later or mature feathers of a bird: opp. to neossoptile. ˈteleosaur (-sɔː(r)), Palæont. [Gr. σαῦρος lizard], a crocodile of the extinct genus Teleosaurus or family Teleosauridæ; so teleoˈsaurian a., belonging to this genus or family; n. = teleosaur. teleoˈtemporal, Anat. and Zool. [temporal a.2], a. and n., a name for the bone called postclavicle. ‖ teleozoon (-ˈzəʊən), Biol. (pl. -zoa) [Gr. ζῷον animal], an animal of perfect or complete organization; one of the higher animals; hence teleozoic (-ˈzəʊɪk) a., pertaining to the teleozoa. See also teleostean, etc.
| 1890 Amer. Nat. May 481 Tæniosomi. *Teleocephals with the scapular arch subnormal, posttemporal undivided and closely applied to the back of the cranium. |
| 1883 Leuthner in Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1885) XI. 400 The gap between the mesodont and *tel[e]odont forms long remained unbridged. 1899 D. Sharp in Camb. Nat. Hist. VI. 193 The largest developments being called teleodont, the smallest priodont. |
| 1863 H. Spencer Biol. (1864) I. ii. i. §43. 109 A tree is an assemblage of numerous united shoots. One of these great *teleophytes is thus an aggregate of aggregates of aggregates of units, which severally resemble protophytes in their sizes and structures. |
| 1893 Gadow in Newton Dict. Birds 243 The first clothing of the newly-hatched bird consists of..soft feathers..possessing..characters which make it advisable to distinguish them, by the name of ‘Neossoptiles’ (νεοσσὸς, a chick), from those feathers which subsequently appear, and may be called ‘*Teleoptiles’ (τέλεος, mature). |
| [1839 G. Roberts Dict. Geol., *Teleosaurus, perfect or complete lizard; a new genus of fossil saurian or lizard, established by M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire.] 1841 Owen in Rep. Brit. Assoc. X. 76 The atlas in the Teleosaur corresponds essentially with that of the Crocodiles. |
| Ibid. 70 They are longer in proportion to their breadth than most of the *Teleosaurian scutes. 1896 H. Woodward Guide Fossil Reptiles Brit. Mus. 6 Long and slender-jawed Teleosaurs and Steneosaurs. 1869 Huxley in Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. XXVI. 47 The ilium of a Teleosaurian. |
| 1865 H. Spencer Biol. (1867) II. iv. iv. §169. 77 Among the Protozoa..and from the minute anatomy of all creatures above these, up to the *Teleozoa. |
▪ II. teleo-2 before a vowel
tele-, combining form
repr. Gr. τέλος end (stem τελε-:
cf. telearch), as in
teleology and its derivatives,
q.v.: also in
teleˈocracy, an organization designed to fulfil a specific purpose; hence
ˈteleocrat,
teleoˈcratic a.;
‖ teleoˈphobia [
mod.L.: see
-phobia], an aversion or unwillingness to admit the existence of design or final causes in nature;
teleorˈganic a., serving the purposes of an organism; necessary to organic life (
Cent. Dict., 1891). (See also
telo-1.)
| 1973 L. L. & J. M. Constantine Group Marriage xiii. 141 In a teleocratic system, leadership depends on the task at hand; teleocratic means ‘purpose-centered’. 1975 Times Lit. Suppl. 12 Sept. 1018/4 Two notions, both derived from the Roman law, ‘societas’ and ‘universitas’... The latter applies to teleocratic organizations which are supposed to produce specified outcomes. Ibid. 1018/5 The full character of the modern state is a condition of unresolved tension between ‘societas’ and ‘universitas’. Teleocracy has always been one of its aspects... He has permitted the teleocrats to impose their self-image upon him. 1976 F. A. Hayek Law, Legislation & Liberty II. vii. 15, I understand that Professor Michael Oakeshott, in his oral teaching, has long used the terms teleocratic (and teleocracy) and nomocratic..to bring out the same distinction [sc. as between an organization and a spontaneous order]. |