larvaladj.
/ˈlɑːvl/, U.S. /ˈlɑrvəl/ΚΠ
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Larval, belonging to a night-spirit, goblin or masker, haggish, ghastly, dreadful.
2.
a. Of or pertaining to a larva or grub; characteristic of a larva.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > family unit > [adjective] > young > larval
larval1848
1848 S. Maunder Treasury Nat. Hist. Gloss. 791/2 Larval, pertaining to larvæ, or insects in the caterpillar state.
1851 S. P. Woodward Man. Mollusca i. 21 The young [of mollusca] generally pass through one preparatory, or larval, stage.
1859 C. Darwin Origin of Species xiii. 424 The naturalist includes as one species the several larval stages of the same individual.
1894 H. Drummond Lowell Lect. Ascent of Man 352 The larval forms of the Star-fish or the Sea Urchin..are disguised past all recognition.
b. Of an animal: In the condition of a larva.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > family unit > [adjective] > young > larval > in the condition of
larval1864
nepionic1889
1864 Reader IV. 669/1 The mode in which the larval flukes found in the molluscs re-enter the sheep.
1866 Duke of Argyll Reign of Law iv. 197 The eating of some larval parasite into the tissue of the wing.
3. Pathology. Of a disease: Latent, undeveloped. Also, ‘applied to certain diseases in which the skin of the face is disfigured as if covered by a mask’ (Mayne Expos. Lex. 1855).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > symptom > [adjective] > without symptoms
silent1621
occult1651
latent1665
latic1684
symptomless1886
larval1897
non-clinical1913
subclinical1916
asymptomatic1932
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. III. 172 Certain irritations in the various organs, such as characterize irregular or larval gout.
1898 P. Manson Trop. Dis. vi. 105 The quinine test is generally conclusive in..the various larval forms of malaria.
1898 P. Manson Trop. Dis. viii. 159 Abortive or larval plague.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1656