auricularadj.n.
/ɔːˈrɪkjʊlə/ A. adj.† 3. Addressing, affecting, or employing the ear only (to the exclusion of mental apprehension).
1. Of or pertaining to the ear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > ear > [adjective]
auricular1649
parotic1857
postauricular1869
preauricular1876
1649 J. Bulwer Pathomyotomia ii. ii. 108 Having the auricular muscles bigger than ordinary.
1850 W. Jardine Nat. Hist. Humming-birds (new ed.) I. 48 Forming auricular tufts of the same colour.
2. † b. Hearsay, oral, traditional. Obsolete.
a. Perceived by the ear; audible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > audibility > [adjective]
exaudiblec1430
hearablec1449
audible1483
auricular1579
undrowned1580
unsilenced?1615
unsilenceable1678
unhushed1814
1579 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 61 Quippinge notorious or auricular iybinge on every hande.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear ii. 92 You shall..by an aurigular [1623 Auricular] assurance haue your satisfaction. View more context for this quotation
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 92 So suddain a death afforded him not the respiration of auricular contrition.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > [adjective] > orally communicated
conveyed?1504
parol1590
auricular1605
oral1628
viva vocea1718
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. F3v The deriuations and prosecutions to these ends..are full of Errour and vanitie; which the great Professors themselues haue sought to vaile ouer and conceale by enigmaticall writings, and referring themselues to auricular traditions..to saue the credite of Impostures. View more context for this quotation
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §326 The Alchemists call in..auricular traditions, feigned testimonies of ancient authors and the like.
c. esp. (in auricular confession): Addressed to the ear; told privately in the ear.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > confession > [noun] > auricular
shrift of mouthc1175
ear-shrift1528
ear-confession1531
auricular confession?1542
?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors xix. sig. E7v That auryculare confessyon, which is the preuy chamber of treason.
1651 C. Cartwright Certamen Religiosum i. 164 The Popish confession is auricular (as it is called), secret, in the eare of a Priest.
1839 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe II. iv. 165 The practice of auricular confession brought with it an entire science of casuistry.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [adjective] > affecting hearing only
auricular1589
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. x. 134 Reaching no higher then th'eare and forcing the mynde little or nothing..is the office of the auricular figures.
1638 J. Mede Reverence Gods House 54 By Hearing in this place is not meant auricular hearing, but practical.
1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber iv. 59 Not meer auricular Imitators of one another.
4. auricular witness n. one who relates what he has heard. (Cf. ocular adj. 1a, and French témoin auriculaire.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > [noun] > a witness, testifier > who heard something
witness?c1225
ear-witness1539
auricular witness1642
1642 J. Howell Instr. Forreine Travell i. 6 One Eye-witness is of more validity than ten Auricular.
1878 Daily News 9 Jan. 6/1 Alluded to as an auricular witness by the Estafette.
5. Pertaining to the auricle of the heart.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > vascular system > heart > [adjective] > auricle
auricular1870
sino-auricular1907
1870 G. Rolleston Forms Animal Life 101 This ‘pericardial’ or ‘auricular’ membrane.
1872 T. H. Huxley Lessons Elem. Physiol. (ed. 6) ii. 42 The moment the auricular systole is over.
6. Shaped like an auricle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > projection or protuberance > [adjective] > rounded projection > ear
auriform1817
auricular1850
1850 R. P. Thomas tr. P. Cazeaux Theoret. & Pract. Treat. Midwifery 29 The abdominal, or internal face..may be divided into two portions; the superior of which is characterized by..a semilunar articular surface..called the auricular facet.
1872 H. A. Nicholson Man. Palæontol. 211 Tubular spines..abundant upon the auricular expansion.
B. n.
a. An auricular organ or part.
ΚΠ
1841 T. Hood Tale of Trumpet i, in New Monthly Mag. May 120 For each auricular Was deaf as a post.
b. spec. A tuft of feathers covering the orifice of a bird's ear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > ear > feathers covering
auricular1826
ear covert1828
1826 T. Bewick Hist. Brit. Birds (ed. 6) I. 18 The plumage..plain on the auriculars.
1874 E. Coues Birds Northwest 126 A post-ocular stripe just over the auriculars.
Thesaurus »
Categories »
c. spec. The little finger, as the one most easily inserted in the ear: cf. French doigt auriculaire.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
adj.n.?1542