SILURIAN

Silurian, Silurian period

(noun) from 425 million to 405 million years ago; first air-breathing animals

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Adjective

Silurian (comparative more Silurian, superlative most Silurian)

(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.

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

Proper noun

Silurian

(geology) The Silurian period.

Source: Wiktionary


Si*lu"ri*an, a. Etym: [From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales.] (Geol.)

Definition: 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.

Note: 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.

Si*lu"ri*an, n.

Definition: The Silurian age.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 December 2024

CHRONIC

(adjective) being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering; “chronic indigestion”; “a chronic shortage of funds”; “a chronic invalid”


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Coffee Trivia

In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.

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