anfractuoseadj.
/anˈfraktjʊˌəʊs/, /anˈfraktʃʊˌəʊs/, U.S. /ænˈfræktʃʊˌoʊs/ Having many curves or turns; winding, sinuous, serpentine.Now only in botanical contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > series of curves > [adjective] > having many or winding curves
tortivous14..
anfractuous?a1425
tortuous1426
tortuea1500
snakish1532
winding1538
wormy1545
boughty1570
wriggled1572
sinuous1578
serpent-likea1586
crankled1594
serpent1597
snaky1600
flexuous1605
snaking1605
cringle-crangle1606
voluminous1611
serpenting?1614
serpentine1615
curvy1623
serpentizing1628
worming1631
lacinious1648
anguineous1656
anguine1657
anfractuose1680
twisting1683
vermicular1712
worm-like1721
flexuose1727
meandering1748
crinkum-crankum1766
serpentiform1777
serpentining1799
anguiform1800
ophite1828
tortuose1829
cranky1836
sinuose1836
serpentile1857
twisty1857
sinuated1859
vermiculatea1864
twinyc1868
tortive1880
crinkle-crankle1881
serpentinous1882
quirky1890
twistical1890
waggly1894
wriggly1901
squiggly1902
wiggly1903
contortionate1911
wig-waggy1914
curvaceous1965
1680 W. Charleton Enq. Human Nature iii. 142 Tracing the Chyle in the narrow, obscure, and anfractuose ways.
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 186 Behind the Drum are several Vaults and anfractuose Cavities in the Ear-Bone.
1800 J. Hull Elements Bot. I. 173 These..may be even flexuous, or spiral, provided the..circumference of the body of the embryo be not curved and anfractuose.
1892 tr. S. J. Pozzi Syst. Gynaecol. xxxv. 474 Tubercular ulceration of the vagina presents perpendicular, unequal and anfractuose edges.
1925 Bull. Misc. Information (Royal Bot. Gardens, Kew) No. 5. 228 The specimen of Darwin's plant..differs from the type of the latter species in the much less anfractuose stem and in the ovate leaf-segments.
2004 Systematic Bot. 29 451/1 All hairs seen were unbranched, of the anfractuose type.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1680