▪ I. processionary, n.
(prəʊˈsɛʃənərɪ)
[ad. med.L. prōcessiōnāri-um, orig. neut. of *prōcessiōnāri-us adj.: see next. So OF. proucessionnaire (1328).]
† 1. = processional n. 1. Obs.
| 1466 in Archæologia (1887) L. i. 37 Item j processionary wryttyn in þe ijde lefe, Exorsiso te. 1483 Cath. Angl. 292/1 A Processionary, processeonarium, processionale. c 1544 in Shropsh. Parish Documents (1903) 53 Item, bookes in the Church: j mass books, j portehowse, j manuell, j processionaries. |
2. U.S. = processioner 4. (Cent. Dict.)
▪ II. proˈcessionary, a.
[f. med.L. type *prōcessiōnāri-us: see procession n. and -ary1. So F. processionnaire (16–17th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. = processional a. ? Obs. exc. as in 2.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xli. §2 Decreed, that the whole Church should bestow yeerely at the feast of Pentecost three dayes in that kind of processionarie seruice. 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. 333 The Pagans in their superstitious and idolatrous Processionary pomps carried the Images of their Gods. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1721) 71 With Tapers and Crucifixes, and other processionary solemnities. |
2. Entom. Applied to caterpillars which go in procession; esp. those of the moth Cnethocampa processionea; hence, processionary moth applied to this species.
| 1765 Projects in Ann. Reg. 140/2 M. de Reaumur ranks this species of caterpillars amongst those which are called processionary, from their marching from one place to another, in large bodies..and in great order. 1816 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. xvi. (1818) II. 23 A still more singular and pleasing spectacle, when their regiments march out to forage, is exhibited by the Processionary Bombyx. 1861 Hulme tr. Moquin-Tandon ii. iv. i. 234 Studying the habits of the Processionary Moth. |