a. and sb. [a. F. végétant, or ad. L. vegetant-, vegetans, pres. pple. of vegetāre: see VEGETATE v.]

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  A.  adj. † 1. Animating, vivifying, invigorating. Vegetant stone: see VEGETABLE a. 1 d. Obs. rare.

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1576.  G. Baker, trans. Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 112. The making of the vegetant stone … is borowed out of the practises of the above sayde Aucthour.

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1615.  Chapman, Odyss., V. 629. The sea’s chill breath, And vegetant dews, I fear will be my death.

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  2.  Vegetating; vegetable, vegetal. Now rare.

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1610.  W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. ill. 6. The Grouth & Repletion of productions, both Vegetant and Animall.

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1654.  Z. Coke, Logick, 28. Life vegetant as Trees, fruitful and unfruitful.

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1675.  Evelyn, Terra (1729), 313. Vegetant and indissoluble salts.

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1903.  R. Bridges, Wintry Delights, 70. Rejoicing In vegetant or brute existence.

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  3.  nonce-use. Vegetarian.

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1858.  Hogg, Shelley, II. 420. Tooke proposed shrimps and treacle to one of the fathers of the church vegetant here on earth.

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  † B.  sb. = VEGETABLE sb. 1, VEGETAL sb. Obs.

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1605.  Timme, Quersit., I. xvi. 85. Simple vegetants, with metallick substances, doe draw those mercurialls … of a purging nature.

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1610.  W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. vi. 13. It intimates howe and wherewith the Plot is … replenished both with Vegetants, and Animals.

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