semi-doubleadj.n.
1. Liturgical. (See quots.) Also n. = semi-double feast. [translating medieval Latin sēmiduplex.]
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society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > [adjective] > semi-double
simple1389
semi-double1728
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > [noun] > semi-double
semi-double1850
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) The Semi-double Office has double Vespers, and Nine Lessons at Mattins; but the Anthems are not re-doubled.
1850 Vesper Bk. Pref. p. xii Sundays and Days within an Octave are Semi-doubles.
1884 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. 344/1 On semi-doubles, half of the antiphon was repeated before, the whole after the psalm.
1909 Catholic Encycl. VI. 23/1 In the Mass, the semidouble has always at least three ‘orationes’ or prayers.
2. Of flowers: Having the innermost stamens perfect, while the outermost have become petaloid.
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the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [adjective] > having or relating to parts > of or having petals > in a single or double row
single1551
double1578
semi-double1720
1720 P. Blair Bot. Ess. iv. 294 The double Roses seldom fructify, but if you shall take the Hip of one that's semi~double [etc.].
1797 New Ann. Reg. 1796 Misc. Papers 146/1 I had collected my opium from double or semi-double poppies.
1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. i. iv. 366 Cultivated semi-double flowers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.n.1720