celledadj.
/sɛld/, U.S. /sɛld/ 1. Containing, or divided into cells or compartments; arranged or constructed in the form of cells. Usually with a prefixed defining word, as single-celled, two-celled, etc. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > physical arrangement or condition > [adjective] > composed of many parts > cellular
celled?c1425
celluloid1853
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 67 (MED) It [sc. the matrice] haþ..aboue two cellede armes [L. brachiis cellulatis] wiþ priue stoones, as it were þe purse of þe priue stones.
1761 J. Hill Veg. Syst. II. iii. i. 27 The 15th [class] has the Multisiliquæ and Multicapsulares, though more properly many celled.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 397 Lychnis. Caps. 1–3, or 5-celled.
1855 R. Owen Lect. Compar. Anat. Invertebr. Animals (ed. 2) 35 The single-celled plant.
1855 P. J. Bailey Mystic 8 Heaven's azure world-hive, celled with stars.
1900 Bot. Gaz. 29 126 The terminal cell of the two-celled stage divides again transversely.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. iii. 60 Volvox is another very interesting kind of flagellate Infusorian, for it forms a many-celled spherical green colony.
1980 Times 2 Aug. 14/3 It had been a two-celled building, with the long walls formed by trenches.
2007 Nature 7 June 650/1 Donor zygotes and two- and eight-celled embryos were also arrested with nocodazole.
2. Enclosed in a cell (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [adjective] > enclosed > in or as in other specific enclosure or receptacle
chamberedc1540
housed1569
bagged1572
celled1586
arboured1606
closeteda1649
vesselled1660
cabineted1680
encysted1705
caverned1734
mounded1807
castled1821
casketed1822
styed1829
tree-embowered1866
tunnelled1901
1586 W. Warner Albions Eng. vi. xxxi. 154 That cowled, celled, he, or she, whoso, or wheresoeuer, Or Uotarie, or Secular, scarce one pryaped neuer.
1638 W. Rawley tr. F. Bacon Hist. Nat. & Exper. Life & Death 390 The spirits..seeme scattered over their whole Body, rather than Celled.
1820 J. Keats Fancy in Lamia & Other Poems 125 Thou shalt see the field-mouse peep Meagre from its celled sleep.
1850 D. M. Moir Hour of Thought v The monk in hood, With book and rood, And nun in cell'd contrition.
1906 J. G. R. Forlong Faiths of Man II. 398 The Culdees may also be ‘celled’ monks.
1986 Nomination W. B. Reynolds (U. S. Senate Committee on Judiciary) 693 Restraining state prison officials from continuing a practice of shackling celled inmates nude to their beds.
2002 W. R. Bell Pract. Criminal Investig. in Correctional Facilities ii. 20 He passed messages back and forth to the celled inmate.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.?c1425