sematicadj.
/sᵻˈmatɪk/, U.S. /səˈmædɪk/ 1. Of or relating to meaning in language; = semantic adj. Now rare. In later examples perhaps a typographical error for semantic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > [adjective]
sematic1855
semasiological1880
sematological1882
semasiologic1889
semantic1890
semantical1904
semological1913
1855 J. W. Powell in Trans. Anthropol. Soc. Washington 3 189 While in the present state of knowledge it is perhaps not possible to set forth clearly the resultant sematic and structural effects upon any language, in linguistic arts important effects are discovered.
1886 W. I. Gill Philos. Realism xi. 140 The sematic significance of all phenomena, as lexically related to each other.
1902 PMLA 17 306 The sematic argument [for retaining conventional spelling] from the supposed importance of distinguishing homonyms, the etymological argument, the historical argument,..have been shown to have little or nothing in them.
2. Chiefly Zoology. Serving as a signal, esp. a warning. Cf. aposematic adj. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > balance of nature > external influences > [adjective] > mimetic colours as signal
sematic1890
1890 E. B. Poulton Colours of Animals xvii. 336 Sematic or Warning and Signalling Colours.
1934 Jrnl. Ecol. 22 5 The vivid appearance of ater in all its colour forms might be sematic.
1966 B. G. Campbell Human Evol. viii. 236 The faces of the baboon and mandrill carry features that are not merely mechanical but sematic (that is, concerned with signaling, with communication within the group).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1855