multivalentadj.n.
/ˌmʌltɪˈveɪlənt/, /ˌmʌltɪˈveɪln̩t/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈveɪl(ə)nt/; see also multi- comb. form. A. adj.
1.
a. Chemistry. = polyvalent adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > valency > [adjective] > having many degrees of valency
polyatomic1852
multivalent1866
polyvalent1866
1866 J. A. R. Newlands in Chem. News 18 May 229/2 The principle of self-saturation suffices to explain a decrease in the apparent quantivalence exhibited by two or more atoms of a multivalent element when united with an univalent element.
1873 J. P. Cooke New Chem. (1874) xii. 278 Hydrates of multivalent radicals.
1916 Proc. Royal Soc. 1915–16 A. 92 363 It is..negative in character, being precipitated by hydrion and the multivalent cations.
1955 B. C. L. Kemp Elem. Org. Chem. (new ed.) iii. 45 Multivalent linkages between atoms do not imply that they are more firmly united than by univalent links.
1972 Science 18 Feb. 750/2 Two multivalent ions of transition elements.
1998 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 13584/1 Our theory may be extended to describe more complex effects of multivalent counter-ions.
b. Mathematics. = many–one adj. at many adj., pron., n., and adv. Compounds 2; spec. (of a holomorphic function) having the same value for more than one value of its argument.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > correlation > [adjective] > one-to-one, etc.
one-to-one1873
multivalent1891
one–many1901
one-for-one1908
many–one1910
one-to-many1916
many–many1922
many-to-one1964
many-to-many1981
1891 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 14 39 (heading) Multivalent and univalent involutory correspondences in a plane determined by a net of curves of nth order.
1937 Ann. Math. 38 782 An analytic function f(z) which is holomorphic for |z| < R and which takes on no value more than p times in this circle and which does take on at least one value p times in this circle is said to be multivalent of order p with respect to the circle |z| = R.
1941 Ann. Math. 42 835 Since f(x) has p zeros and is multivalent of order p in the unit circle it follows that f(x) has exactly p zeros for |z| < 1.
1995 Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 123 1199 (title) On an identity related to multivalent functions.
c. Immunology. Of an antigen or antibody: having more than one combining site for an antibody or antigen, respectively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > substance > process stimulators or inhibitors > immunogen or antigen > [adjective] > valency of
polyvalent1912
multivalent1934
univalent1939
monovalent1960
the world > life > biology > substance > process stimulators or inhibitors > antibody > [adjective] > valency of
polyvalent1912
multivalent1934
univalent1939
monovalent1960
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > antidote > [adjective] > polyvalent
polyvalent1900
multivalent1934
multivalent1970
1934 Harvey Lect. 28 198 In this way it has been possible to show that antigen and antibody in this system, too, are multivalent with respect to each other—that is, that the composition of the precipitate varies according to the relative proportions of the reactants.
1948 E. A. Kabat & M. M. Mayer Exper. Immunochem. iii. 67 The antigen particles are linked together by antibody molecules to form aggregates as a result of the combination of multivalent antibody with multivalent antigen on the particle surface.
1963 J. H. Humphrey & R. G. White Immunol. for Students of Med. vi. 185 The combination in multiple proportions depends upon the fact that both antigen and antibody are multivalent. Antibody valencies are restricted to two per molecule but antigen valencies may exceed 200.
1989 B. Alberts et al. Molecular Biol. Cell (ed. 2) xviii. 1018 A typical IgG molecule will bind at least 1000 times more strongly to a multivalent antigen if both antigen-binding sites are engaged than if only one site is engaged.
d. Immunology. Of an antiserum or vaccine: = polyvalent adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > antidote > [adjective] > polyvalent
polyvalent1900
multivalent1934
multivalent1970
1970 Lancet 7 Nov. 959/1 A new multivalent vaccine consisting of two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, six serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and staphylococcus toxoid.
1988 Q. N. Myrvik & R. S. Weiser Fund. Med. Bacteriol. & Mycol. (ed. 2) xi. 184 One method [of detecting antigens] is counterimmunoelectrophoresis using a multivalent antiserum.
1994 Sci. News 28 May 345/3 Combination vaccines, multivalent vaccines, microsphere technology, and improved adjuvants have yet to reach their ultimate potential.
2. Cell Biology. Of, relating to, or designating a multivalent (sense B.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > genetic components > [adjective] > chromosome > chromosomes in respect of meiosis
non-homologous1883
quadrivalent1898
univalent1898
bivalent1899
plurivalent1901
homologous1903
heterotropic1905
monovalent1906
heteromorphic1917
homomorphic1917
trivalent1921
multivalent1929
sexivalent1931
nullisomic1932
quinquevalent1935
1929 Jrnl. Genetics 21 41 The whole process by which multivalent combinations arise has been followed only in the tulips.
1937 C. D. Darlington Rec. Adv. in Cytol. (ed. 2) iv. 129 The result seems to depend on..the distribution of the chiasmata in the multivalent chromosome.
1967 Biol. Abstr. 48 983/1 (heading) Multivalent associations in oocytes of Triturus helveticus helveticus.
1991 Chromosoma 100 193 A high frequency of multivalent pairing of the four B chromosomes is observed at pachytene.
3. Chiefly Linguistics and Literary Criticism. Having or open to many different applications, interpretations, meanings, or values. Cf. multivocal adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > meaning of linguistic unit > [adjective] > having many meanings
multivalent1933
plurivalent1937
polyvalent1957
1933 Mind 42 484 I propose to call words which can enter sentences in more than one sense multivalent words.
1963 Listener 31 Jan. 213/2 Spenser's allegory is sometimes naïve, often multivalent, and often, indeed, non-existent.
1986 P. Edwards in W. Lewis Caliph's Design (new ed.) 156 In the terminology of Charles Jencks, these pictures are ‘multivalent’..in that they are open to multiple explorations by the imagination.
1994 H. Bloom Western Canon i. i. 38 If we could conceive of a universal canon, multicultural and multivalent, its one essential book would not be a scripture.
B. n.
Cell Biology. An association of three or more completely or partly homologous chromosomes during the first division of meiosis.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > genetic components > [noun] > chromosome > chromosomes in respect of meiosis
trivalency1888
zygosome1905
bivalence1909
zygonema1911
trivalent1922
quadrivalent1923
quinquevalent1926
multivalent1929
nullisomic1932
bivalent1937
nullisome1944
1929 Jrnl. Genetics 21 12 At post-diplotene stages associations of three, four and five chromosomes are found, clearly the forerunners of the metaphase multivalents.
1937 M. J. D. White Chromosomes v. 82 The frequency of formation of multivalents in polyploids varies a great deal and apparently depends in part on the length of the chromosomes and in part on the rapidity of zygotene pairing.
1971 Nature 9 Apr. 390/1 Though most of the chromosomes are associated as bivalents, a few multivalents are present.
1993 Heredity 71 305 Initial synapsis in the allohexaploids is mostly between homologous chromosomes though some multivalents are formed, but in the hybrid most of the chromosomes associate as multivalents.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.n.1866