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fossiliferous

[fos-uh-lif-er-uh s]
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adjective
  1. bearing or containing fossils, as rocks or strata.
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Origin of fossiliferous

First recorded in 1840–50; fossil + -i- + -ferous
Related formsnon·fos·sil·if·er·ous, adjectiveun·fos·sil·if·er·ous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fossiliferous

Historical Examples

  • The abnormal character of much of the fossiliferous deposits.

    Illogical Geology

    George McCready Price

  • Some kinds of deposits are more often fossiliferous than others.

  • The Metamorphic strata, why less calcareous than the fossiliferous.

  • It is fossiliferous, one of the commonest of its shells being the Terebratula.

    Hertfordshire

    Herbert W Tompkins

  • They have yet another and fourth title, which is, Fossiliferous Rocks.

British Dictionary definitions for fossiliferous

fossiliferous

adjective
  1. (of sedimentary rocks) containing fossils
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fossiliferous

adj.

by 1830, from fossil + -ferous "producing, containing," from ferre "to bear" (see infer).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper