osculant

[os-kyuh-luhnt]

adjective

1. united by certain common characteristics.

2. adhering closely; embracing.

osculant

/ ˈɒskjʊlənt /

adjective

1. biology (of an organism or group of organisms) possessing some of the characteristics of two different taxonomic groups

2. zoology closely joined or adhering

Word History and Origins

Origin of osculant¹

1810–20; < Latin ōsculant- (stem of ōsculāns ), present participle of ōsculārī to kiss; osculate, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of osculant¹

C19: from Latin ōsculārī to kiss; see _osculum

Example Sentences

Some of these orders are connected by aberrant and osculant families or groups, which have by other authors been variously ranked as independent orders, but which, following Westwood substantially, I have considered, for convenience, as suborders.

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These osculant or aberrant forms occur most among parasitic groups, as the Stylopid�, Hippoboscid�, Pulicid�, Mallophaga, etc.

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Osculant: intermediate in character between two groups or series.

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OSCULANT.—Forms or groups apparently intermediate between and connecting other groups are said to be osculant.

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As some few of the old and intermediate forms having transmitted to the present day descendants but little modified, these constitute our so-called osculant or aberrant groups.

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