Cryptozoicadj.1n.
/ˌkrɪptə(ʊ)ˈzəʊɪk/, U.S. /ˌkrɪptəˈzoʊɪk/ Geology.
A. adj.1† 1. In form cryptozoic. In the terminology of E. Renevier: (of limestone) so fine-grained or crystalline that it shows no traces of life forms. Obsolete. rare.
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1881 E. Renevier in Proc. Geologists' Assoc. 1879–81 6 426 Cryptozoic.—Compact, Siliceous, Dolomitic, and Crystalline Limestones.
2. Designating the eon before the beginning of the Cambrian period (about 542 million years ago), equivalent to the Precambrian period; of or relating to this eon, which is characterized by a lack of obvious fossils (as contrasted with the Phanerozoic eon).The Cryptozoic eon is now regarded as comprising the Archaean and Proterozoic eras.
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the world > the earth > structure of the earth > age or period > [adjective] > pre-Cambrian
Protozoic1838
prozoic1845
Precambrian1864
Cryptozoic1911
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > age or period > stratigraphic units > [adjective] > pre-Cambrian
primitive1779
primordial1794
primary1795
Protozoic1838
prozoic1845
Cryptozoic1911
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 266/2 The name pre-Cambrian is the equivalent of the ‘Algonkian’..and of the ‘Proterozoic’..; the term eozoic, archaeozoic, agnotozoic, cryptozoic, eparchaic and others have also been applied to the same period.
1930 G. H. Chadwick in Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer. 41 48 The following classificatory scheme is offered for criticism... Phanerozoic or Phanerobiotic... Cryptozoic or Cryptobiotic (Precambrian).
1958 R. C. Moore Introd. Hist. Geol. (ed. 2) iv. 59 The first major division of earth history determinable from rocks exposed at the surface is the Cryptozoic Eon.
1988 P. Cloud Oasis in Space xi. 286/2 Stromatolites have been prime targets in a successful search for new Cryptozoic biotas.
2005 Micropaleontology 51 345/1 These biotypes and their associated microbes are geologically ancient (Cryptozoic).
B. n.
The Cryptozoic eon; the Precambrian; the system of rocks dating from this time.
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the world > the earth > structure of the earth > age or period > [noun] > Pre-Cambrian
Precambrian1915
Cryptozoic1922
1922 F. W. Flattely & C. L. Walton Biol. Sea-Shore i. 7 We thus have two great sub-realms: the phanerozoic and the cryptozoic.
1949 Rep. Comm. Measurem. Geol. Time 1947–8 (National Res. Council (U.S.) Div. Geol. & Geogr.) 53 Suggests calling preCambrian the Cryptozoic, with a 3-fold division into Eo-, Meso-, and Neo-cryptozoic eons.
1968 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 19 Nov. 26/8 The Cryptozoic (‘hidden life’) extends a further 3,000 million years—and yet its rocks show almost no traces of life!
1992 C. Emiliani Planet Earth xx. 406/1 The Cryptozoic covers the time from the formation of the solar system..to the beginning of the Cambrian.
2002 A. Sawyer in G. Westfahl et al. Worlds Enough & Time v. 56 Humanity has become too closely aware of its impending death and dissolution into the mindless mock-life among the rocks of the Cryptozoic.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
cryptozoicadj.2
/ˌkrɪptə(ʊ)ˈzəʊɪk/, U.S. /ˌkrɪptəˈzoʊɪk/ Ecology.
Designating animals that live in concealed habitats where they remain hidden from view, as in crevices or caves; of or relating to such animals; = cryptic adj. 6, cryptobiotic adj. 3. Contrasted with phanerozoic adj.1
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the world > animals > by habitat > [adjective] > relating to fauna > relating to particular types of > that lives in the home of another
inquiline1716
inquilinous1879
cryptozoic1889
synanthropic1936
1889 A. Dendy in Victorian Naturalist 5 131 To these light-abhorring animals, which live concealed under logs and stones and beneath the dead bark of trees, and venture forth from their hiding places, if at all, only at night or under exceptional circumstances, it will be convenient to give a distinct name indicative of their peculiar habitat, and..I can find no more suitable name than 'Cryptozoic', or living hidden.
1899 J. A. Thomson in H. R. Mill Internat. Geogr. i. viii. 93 There is the ‘cryptozoic’ fauna of caves and grottoes, some members of which appear to be ancient relicts.
1926 Glasgow Herald 26 June 4/2 It lives a cryptozoic life, shy and nocturnal, hiding under bark and leaves.
1953 R. F. Lawrence Biol. Cryptic Fauna of Forests ii. 32 Certain examples of cryptozoic forms may take advantage of the shelter provided by human habitations.
2003 Herpetologica 59 124/2 This agrees with diurnal, terrestrial, and cryptozoic habits recorded for T. melanocephala in the Amazon region.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1n.1881adj.21889