ramifiedadj.

1673 N. Grew Idea Phytol. Hist. i. 5 As of Roots, in being thick or slender, short or long, entire or parted, stringed or ramified.

1714 W. Derham Physico-theol. (ed. 2) 164 (note) The Lacerta aquatica, or Water-Newt, when Young, hath four neat ramified fins.

1762 J. Cook New Theory Generation 154 The Transudation of the spirituous Parts of the Man's Seed, through the many ramified Veins of the Vagina.

1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 175 Those of the coral class, of a ramified and tubular form.

1836 E. Baines Hist. Lancaster (new ed.) III. 183 The eastern window [of Whalley Church]..is invecked with ramified tracery.

1863 H. Spencer Ess. 2nd Ser. 205 The ramified consequences that laws have produced.

1912 E. A. Schäfer Textbk. Microsc. Anat. 400 The ramified cells which cover the reticular tissue of the lymph-sinus often contain a considerable number of pigment-granules.

1930 Times 1 Apr. 17/5 The most a sensible man can do today is to know whom to ask about each of the ramified divisions of modern knowledge.

1968 P. Brien in M. Florkin & B. T. Scheer Chem. Zool. II. i. i. 11 The original spicule, or crepis, is clothed with a supplementary deposit of silica, of tubercular, irregular, and ramified structure, forming the desma.

1992 Times Lit. Suppl. 3 Apr. 20/3 Eisenberg thus offers a judicious assessment of a widely ramified body of paintings.

2008 A. Davies Mine All Mine 130 ‘Hear what?’ Charlie says, studying the ramified cracks of the windshield.