ppl. a. [f. prec. with the ppl. ending -ed, after analogy of the later pples. from vbs. in -ATE.]

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  1.  Nat. Hist. Pointed, sharpened to a needle-like point; armed with prickles.

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1681.  Willis, Rem. Med. Wks., Aculeated, Made sharp and prickly like a needles point.

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1713.  Derham, Physico-Theol., IV. xi. 19. The mouth is … in some [insects] aculeated; to pierce and wound Animals, and suck their Blood.

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1774.  Bryant, Mythol., I. 344. The murex is of the turbinated kind, and particularly aculeated; having strong and sharp protuberances.

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  2.  fig. Pointed, incisive, keen, pungent.

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1655.  Lestrange, Charles I., 71. A man of an acute but aculeated wit.

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1813.  Knox & Jebb, Corr., II. 170. The apothegms … and aculeated sayings of the ancients are inestimable.

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1839.  De Quincey, Recoll. of Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 233. A trenchant, pungent, aculeated form of terse, glittering, stenographic sentences.

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