protomorphicadj.
/ˌprəʊtə(ʊ)ˈmɔːfɪk/, U.S. /ˌproʊdoʊˈmɔrfɪk/ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > evolution > [adjective] > evolutionary ancestor
primitive1846
ancestral1851
protomorphic1855
phylembryonic1890
1855 T. H. Huxley in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 476/1 The boundary line—passing through indifferent tissue—between any two such opposite areæ of growth and metamorphosis, I term the Protomorphic line.
1867 H. Spencer Princ. Biol. II. 289 A protomorphic layer, which differentiates in opposite directions.
1885 Amer. Naturalist 19 202 The horny fibers develop between the corium and epidermis or embryonic skin, in the plane of the protomorphic line of Huxley.
2. Having the original form or structure; fundamental; primitive, undeveloped.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > source or origin > [adjective]
mother?c1225
originalc1350
radicala1398
primitive?a1425
fundamentalc1449
primordial?a1450
primea1500
primary1565
nativea1592
fundamentive1593
primordiate1599
primara1603
remote1605
originousa1637
originary1638
parental1647
principiate1654
fontal1656
underivative1656
underived1656
fountainous1662
first hand1699
matricular1793
first-handed1855
protomorphic1887
1887 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 10 1 When no letters beyond D are involved, all plenarily absolute principiants are functions of the two fundamental, or protomorphic ones.
1902 Amer. Anthropologist 4 539/2 Dr. Fritsch considered briefly Stratz's protomorphic, archimorphic, and metamorphic races.
1977 A. Sheridan tr. J. Lacan Écrits vi. 195 The question does not find its lineaments in protomorphic proliferations of the image.
2002 Representations 78 72 You stand before a protomorphic blur of fluctuating polychromy where there is only the semblance of form.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1855