spheraladj.
/ˈsfɪərəl/ 1.
a. Of or relating to a sphere or round body; having the rounded form of a sphere; spherical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [adjective] > spherical or globular
roundc1300
orbicular?1440
spherical1523
spheral1571
globous1591
globy1595
bulbed1597
orbed1598
sphery1600
spheric1610
globical1612
rotundious1614
globular1626
globed1633
global1637
globose1667
spheriform1678
globosous1681
globar1699
bulbous1783
ball-shaped1802
globate1806
perispheric1828
bulb-like1836
balloon-shaped1839
bulbiform1849
globuloid1889
1571 T. Digges in L. Digges's Geom. Pract.: Pantometria vi. sig. Xj Thus also..ye shal most speedily finde these spheral semidiameters.
1571 T. Digges in L. Digges's Geom. Pract.: Pantometria xvii. sig. Ccivv All the sides and diameters both circular and spherall of..regulare solides.
1690 W. Leybourn Cursus mathematicus 328 In respect of these Bodies Spheral Circumscriptibility.
1766 G. Canning tr. M. de Polignac Anti-Lucretius ii. 107 These in a form exactly spheral place.
b. figurative. Symmetrically rounded or perfect.
ΚΠ
1841 R. W. Emerson Intellect in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 343 The poet, whose verses are to be spheral and complete.
1844 R. W. Emerson Nom. & Real. in Ess. ⁋12 There is somewhat spheral and infinite..in every genius.
2. Of or relating to the cosmic spheres or the heavenly bodies:
a. Of the supposed music of the spheres.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > sphere of ancient astronomy > [adjective]
crystalc1450
sphery1600
sphericala1616
spheric1648
spheral1829
1829 T. Carlyle in Foreign Rev. Dec. 118 As the Ancients fabled of the Spheral Music.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 237 She spake as with the voice Of spheral harmony.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. i. 239 The ancients had their spheral melodies.
b. In other contexts.
ΚΠ
1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons xiii. lxxii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 647/1 Fortune.., calm and aloft amongst the other angelic powers, revolves her spheral course.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters xvi. 409 To discuss the Platonic theory of the spheral motion.
1883 Nature 8 Feb. 351 As closely contiguous in space as are the molecules of spheral atmospheres.
Derivatives
spheˈrality n. rare sphericity.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > [noun] > sphericity or globularity
rotunditya1513
globosity1577
sphericity1625
sphericalness1644
orbicularity1653
globulousness1665
sphericality1669
globularness1715
globularity1750
burl1876
spherality1890
bulbosity1901
1890 Cent. Dict. Spherality, the state of being spheral, or having the form of a sphere.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
adj.1571