zoosematic, adj.

zoosematic
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoosematic_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# † zoosematicadjective

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zoosematic mean?

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

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1900s.

### Where does the adjective zoosematic come from?

Earliest known use

1890s

The earliest known use of the adjective zoosematic is in the 1890s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoosematic is from 1898, in the writing of W. J. McGee.

### Nearby entries

1. zooplanktivorous, adj. 1971–
2. zooplankton, n. 1897–
3. zooplanktonic, adj. 1912–
4. zooplastic, adj. a1855–
5. zoopraxinoscope, n. 1889–
6. zoopraxiscope, n. 1881–
7. zoopraxography, n. 1891–
8. zoopsychology, n. 1847–
9. zooscopic, adj. 1817–
10. zooscopy, n. 1891–
11. zoosematic, adj.1898–1909
12. zoosemiotics, n. 1963–
13. zoosophy, n. 1662–1848
14. zoosperm, n. 1824–
15. zoospermatic, adj. 1845–79
16. zoosporangiophore, n. 1889–
17. zoosporangium, n. 1862–
18. zoospore, n. 1842–
19. zoosporic, adj. 1854–
20. zoosporous, adj. 1845–
21. zoot, n. 1942–

## Etymology

< zoo- comb. form + ancient Greek σηματ-, σῆμα sign (see sema n.) + ‑ic suffix.

## Meaning & use

Obsolete rare.

1. 1898–1909
   Resembling an animal; symbolizing an animal; cf. zoic adj. 2.
   1. 1898

      > The Seri face-painting would seem to be essentially zoosematic.

      W. J. McGee, Seri Indians in 17th Ann. Rep. Bureau Amer. Ethnol. 1895–6 vol. I. 169 in U.S. Congressional Serial Set (55th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Doc. 316 Pt. 1) vol. XCIV
   2. 1909

      > Zoösematic, symbolizing animals.

      Century Dictionary Suppl.
   animals
   1. animalized 1835–
      Having the attributes or appearance of an animal.
   2. zoomorphic 1872–
      Esp. of a god or supernatural being: that has, or is conceived or represented as having, the form of an animal.
   3. zoosematic 1898–1909
      Resembling an animal; symbolizing an animal; cf. zoic, adj. 2.
   4. theriomorph 1969–
      Having the form or characteristics of a beast.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zoo-, comb. form

zoo-, comb. form was revised in June 2017.