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copulation|kɒpjuːˈleɪʃən|
[a. F. copulation (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. cōpulātiōn-em, n. of action f. cōpulāre: see prec.]
†1. The action of coupling or linking two things together, or condition of being coupled; connexion, union. Obs.
c1400Test. Love i. (1560) 278/2 Every othe by knitting of copulacion must have these lawes. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John Pref. 3 a, The wonderfull copulacion of the sayed nature vnto ours by his incarnacion. 1578Banister Hist. Man i. 5 That kynde of copulation called Synchondrosis, is to be noted by the bones of the brest. a1623W. Pemble Justification (1629) 221 The copulation of a liuing faith and obedience together. 1752Johnson Rambler No. 194 ⁋10 Wit..is the unexpected copulation of ideas. 1752H. Walpole Corr. (1837) I. 179 A pyramid which by a most unnatural copulaton is at once a grotto and a greenhouse.
b. Grammatical or logical connexion.
1586A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 86 When one or moe members doe follow in equall sentences, as thus..: or thus with copulation: neither hast thou.., nor.., nor... 1854Hickok Ment. Sc. 146 The varieties of judgements, which depend upon the forms of copulation.
†c. quasi-concr. A combination. Obs. rare.
1774H. Walpole Let. Sir W. Hamilton 19 June, A new instrument..a copulation of a harpsicord and a violin.
2. spec. The union of the sexes in the act of generation. (Now chiefly a term of Zoology.)
1483Caxton Cato A v b, Made one flesshe by carnal copulacyon or bodily felawshyp. c1530More Life Hen. VIII, 63 Because of the carnall copulacion had betweene prince Arthur and the queene. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 185 Some thinking that they [bees] are ingendred by copulation, the drone being the male, and the Bee the female. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. ii. 84 The copulation of Cattle. 1645E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1661) 31 Marriage, which is a lawful copulation of a man and a woman. 1830R. Knox Béclard's Anat. 28 They produce living young, without copulation. 1880Gunther Fishes 157 In viviparous fishes actual copulation takes place. |