1. A substance dug from the earth. [Obs.]
Formerly all minerals were called fossils, but the word is now restricted to express the remains of animals
and plants found buried in the earth. Ure.
2. (Paleon.) The remains of an animal or plant found in stratified rocks. Most fossils belong to extinct
species, but many of the later ones belong to species still living.
3. A person whose views and opinions are extremely antiquated; one whose sympathies are with a former
time rather than with the present. [Colloq.]
Fossiliferous
(Fos`sil*if"er*ous) a. [Fossil + -ferous.] (Paleon.) Containing or composed of fossils.
Fossilification
(Fos*sil`i*fi*ca"tion) n. [Fossil + L. facere to make.] The process of becoming fossil.
Fossilism
(Fos"sil*ism) n.
1. The science or state of fossils. Coleridge.
2. The state of being extremely antiquated in views and opinions.
Fossilist
(Fos"sil*ist), n. One who is versed in the science of fossils; a paleontologist. Joseph Black.
Fossilization
(Fos`sil*i*za"tion) n. [Cf. F. fossilisation.] The process of converting, or of being converted,
into a fossil.
Fossilize
(Fos"sil*ize) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fossilized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fossilizing ] [Cf. F. fossiliser.]
1. To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood.
2. To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by fossilization; to mummify; to deaden.
Ten layers of birthdays on a woman's head
Are apt to fossilize her girlish mirth.
Mrs. Browning. Fossilize
(Fos"sil*ize), v. i.
1. To become fossil.
2. To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress.
Fossilized
(Fos"sil*ized) a. Converted into a fossil; antiquated; firmly fixed in views or opinions.
A fossilized sample of confused provincialism.
Earle. Fossores
(||Fos*so"res) n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fossor digger, fr. fodere to dig.] (Zoöl.) A group of hymenopterous
insects including the sand wasps. They excavate cells in earth, where they deposit their eggs, with the
bodies of other insects for the food of the young when hatched. [Written also Fossoria.]
Fossoria
(||Fos*so"ri*a) n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) See Fossores.
Fossorial
(Fos*so"ri*al) a. [L. fossor a digger.] Fitted for digging, adapted for burrowing or digging; as,
a fossorial foot; a fossorial animal.
Fossorious
(Fos*so"ri*ous) a. (Zoöl.) Adapted for digging; — said of the legs of certain insects.
Fossulate
(Fos"su*late) a. [L. fossula little ditch, dim. of fossa. See Fosse.] Having, or surrounded
by, long, narrow depressions or furrows.
