zoosporous, adj.

zoosporous
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoosporous_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoosporousadjective

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zoosporous mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective zoosporous. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the adjective zoosporous come from?

Earliest known use

1840s

The earliest known use of the adjective zoosporous is in the 1840s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoosporous is from 1845, in the writing of A. H. Hassall.

### Nearby entries

1. zooscopy, n. 1891–
2. zoosematic, adj. 1898–1909
3. zoosemiotics, n. 1963–
4. zoosophy, n. 1662–1848
5. zoosperm, n. 1824–
6. zoospermatic, adj. 1845–79
7. zoosporangiophore, n. 1889–
8. zoosporangium, n. 1862–
9. zoospore, n. 1842–
10. zoosporic, adj. 1854–
11. zoosporous, adj.1845–
12. zoot, n. 1942–
13. zootaxy, n. 1833–
14. zootechnic, adj. 1861–
15. zootechnics, n. 1863–
16. zootechny, n. 1841–
17. zootheca, n. 1852–
18. zoothecium, n. 1880–
19. zootheism, n. 1879–
20. zootheist, n. 1879–
21. zootheistic, adj. 1879–

## Meaning & use

Biology.

1. 1845–
   Producing zoospores; of the nature of, or effected by zoospores; = zoosporic adj.
   Stressed as zooˈsporous.
   1. 1845

      > The contents of the undoubted zoosporous Algæ are.., for the most part, fluid.

      A. H. Hassall, Hist. Brit. Freshwater Algæ vol. I. 25
   2. 1855

      > The occurrence of zoosporous reproduction under the most simple conditions.

      Todd's Cyclopædia of Anatomy & Physiology vol. V. 212/2
   3. 1975

      > Somatic nuclear divisions in aquatic zoosporous fungi.

      American Journal of Botany vol. 62 349/1
   life sciences physiology
   1. formal c1400–1676
      Of or pertaining to form, n., in various senses. Pertaining to the specific form of an animal or plant. Of a seed or germ: Endowed with a…
   2. sporular 1819–
      Having the character of, pertaining to, a sporule.
   3. zoosporous 1845–
      Producing zoospores; of the nature of, or effected by zoospores; = zoosporic, adj.
   4. zoosporic 1854–
      Producing zoospores; of the nature of, or effected by zoospores; = zoosporous, adj.
   5. polysporous 1858–
      Containing or producing numerous spores; involving or characterized by the production of numerous spores.
   6. polyspored 1882–
      = polysporous, adj.
   7. sporulating 1897–
   8. sporulated 1898–
   9. polyzoic 1901–
      Chiefly Zoology. Of, relating to, or designating a parasitic sporozoan whose oocysts produce a large number of sporozoites. rare.
   10. zygosporic 1906–
       Of the nature of or producing zygospores.
   11. polyspore 1959–
       Of or derived from many spores; = polysporous, adj.
   12. propagular 1967–
       Of or relating to a propagule or propagules.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zoospore, n.

zoospore, n. was revised in June 2017.