a. [f. L. type *corpusculāris, f. corpuscul-um: see prec. and -AR. Cf. mod.F. corpusculaire.]

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  1.  Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of corpuscles; consisting of corpuscles.

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1671.  J. Webster, Metallogr., iii. 45. Atoms, or small corpuscular particles.

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1812.  Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 124. To depend … upon the corpuscular aggregates being all of the same kind.

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1876.  trans. Wagner’s Gen. Pathol., 151. The corpuscular elements of the blood.

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1878.  Stewart & Tait, Unseen Univ., iv. § 152. 156. The absorption of light is more compatible with a corpuscular constitution.

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  2.  Concerned with corpuscles or atoms; = ATOMIC 2; esp. in Corpuscular philosophy, theory.

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1667.  Boyle (title), Origine of Formes and Qualities (According to the Corpuscular Philosophy). Ibid. (1684), Porousn. Anim. & Solid Bod., vi. 95. Corpuscular Philosophers.

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1678.  Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 7. The atheistical system of the world … is built upon a peculiar physiological hypothesis … called by some ‘atomical,’ or ‘corpuscular.’

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1741.  Watts, Improv. Mind, II. v. § 2. According to the corpuscular philosophy, improved by Descartes, Mr. Boyle and Sir Isaac Newton.

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1878.  Stewart & Tait, Unseen Univ. (1880), 37. Adopting like Epicurus the atomic or corpuscular theory of things.

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  b.  Corpuscular theory of light = EMISSION theory: see CORPUSCULE, quot. 1853.

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1833.  Herschel, Astron., iv. 180, note. The undulatory and corpuscular theories of light.

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1875.  Tait, in Gd. Words, 858. How completely shattered was the corpuscular theory of light when the velocity was shown to be 180,000 miles per second.

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