bacillary
|ba-cil-lar-y|
/bəˈsɪləri/
relating to rod-shaped bacteria
Etymology
'bacillary' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'bacillus', where 'bacillum' (diminutive of 'baculum') meant 'little rod' or 'small staff'.
'bacillus' (Latin) was adopted into New/Scientific Latin to name rod-shaped bacteria; English formed the adjective 'bacillary' (19th century) by adding the suffix '-ary' to indicate 'pertaining to'.
Initially, the root referred to a 'little rod' (a small stick); over time it came to denote 'rod-shaped bacteria', and 'bacillary' evolved to mean 'relating to or caused by such bacteria'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(rare) A bacillus; a rod-shaped bacterium (used occasionally as a noun in scientific contexts).
Under high magnification, several bacillaries were visible in the sample.
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Adjective 1
relating to or caused by bacilli (rod-shaped bacteria); having the characteristics of bacilli.
The patient was diagnosed with a bacillary infection affecting the intestines.
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Last updated: 2025/12/25 02:41