Lexic.us

Definition of Silurian

1. Noun. From 425 million to 405 million years ago; first air-breathing animals.

Definition of Silurian

1. a. Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; -- a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country.

2. n. The Silurian age.

Definition of Silurian

1. Adjective. (geology) Of a geologic period within the Paleozoic era; comprises the Llandovery, Wenlock, Ludlow and Pridoli epochs from about 439 to 409 million years ago. ¹

2. Adjective. (archaeology) Of or related to the Silures, a pre-Roman British tribe. ¹

3. Proper noun. (geology) The Silurian period. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Silurian

1. of or pertaining to a certain geologic time period [adj]

Medical Definition of Silurian

1. Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country. The Silurian formation, so named by Murchison, is divided into the Upper Silurian and Lower Silurian. The lower part of the Lower Silurian, with some underlying beds, is now separated under the name Cambrian, first given by Sedwick. Recently the term Ordovician has been proposed for the Lower Silurian, leawing the original word to apply only to the Upper Silurian. Origin: From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Silurian

Literary usage of Silurian

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"The earliest silurian fauna of North America, that of the Clinton group, contains a few ... The American rocks and faunas of silurian time indicate: first, ..."

2. The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and by Hugh Chisholm (1911)
"Extinct; silurian and Devonian. The last two families arc ... Extinct; silurian to Cretaceous; adductors sub-equal. Fam. 9. ..."

3. An Introduction to Historical Geology: With Special Reference to North America by William John Miller (1916)
"In the preceding chapter we have also shown how the silurian has since been ... In view of the.priority of Murchison's term "silurian," and the fact that ..."

4. An Introduction to Historical Geology: With Special Reference to North America by William John Miller (1916)
"In the preceding chapter we have also shown how the silurian has since been ... In view of the priority of Murchison's term " silurian," and the fact that ..."

5. Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science with Special by James Dwight Dana (1880)
"Arctic American Upper silurian Species occurring elsewhere. ... Л considerable number of species in the British Lower silurian pass into the Upper silurian. ..."

6. Elements of Geology: A Text-book for Colleges and for the General Reader by Joseph LeConte (1891)
"The name silurian was given by Murchison to the rocks of the whole age. ... We have called the whole age silurian, but the great, thickness and exceptional ..."

7. Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science with Special by James Dwight Dana (1875)
"Arctic American Upper silurian Species occurring elsewhere. ... A considerable number of species in the British Lower silurian pass into the Upper silurian. ..."

8. The Ancient Life-history of the Earth: A Comprehensive Outline of the by Henry Alleyne Nicholson (1897)
"CHAPTER X. THE UPPER silurian PERIOD. Having now treated of the Lower silurian period at considerable length, it will not be necessary to discuss the ..."

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