Caecilian definition

sə-sĭlyən, -sĭlē-ən, -sēl-
Any of various legless, burrowing amphibians of the order Gymnophiona, having numerous grooved rings encircling the body, and found chiefly in tropical regions.
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Any of an order (Gymnophiona) of legless tropical amphibians resembling worms.
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Any of a group of burrowing amphibians (order Gymnophiona or Apoda) that resemble earthworms or snakes.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
caecilian
Plural:
caecilians

Origin of caecilian

  • From Latin caecilia a kind of lizard from caecus blind (from its small eyes)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin caecus (“blind”).

    From Wiktionary

Caecilian Sentence Examples

  • It is absurd to call the larva of a newt or of a Caecilian a tadpole, nor is the free-swimming embryo of a frog as it leaves the egg a tadpole.

  • The friends of the late bishop fixed their choice on Caecilian, the archdeacon, and secured his election and his consecration by Felix, the bishop of Aptunga, before the other party were ready for action.

  • Caecilian's party, however, had not waited for them, knowing them to be in sympathy with their opponents.

  • Soon after Caecilian's consecration, Secundus sent a commission to Carthage, which appointed an interventor temporarily to administer the bishopric which they regarded as vacant.

  • A synod of Africa was formed, before which Caecilian was summoned; his consecration was declared invalid, on the ground that Felix had been a traditor; and finally, having refused to obey the summons to appear, he was excommunicated, and the lector Majorinus, a dependant of Lucilla's, consecrated in his stead.

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