a. [f. L. analogic-us (see prec.) + -AL 1.]
† 1. Math. Proportional; in exact ratio. Obs.
1570. Dee, Math. Præf., 17. The perfect Analogicall description of the Ocean Sea coastes.
2. Of the nature of analogy; consisting in, constituted by, in accordance with analogy.
1609. Sir E. Hoby, Let. Mr. T. H., 41. Far more Analogicall is Saint Chrysostoms exposition.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 5. To spell out future events, by making such analogical interpretations as they use to do in augury.
1763. Price, in Phil. Trans., LIII. 372. The strength of analogical or inductive reasoning.
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes (1850), 29/1. Some of the analogical signs which (guided by his faculty of imitation) he had contrived.
1873. H. Rogers, Superh. Orig. Bible, App. (ed. 3), 438. In any ‘type’ it is only analogical resemblance that is pretended.
3. Expressing an analogy, naming a thing after something else to which it has an analogy, metonymic; as the heart of an apple; the apple of the eye; the mouth of a cave; a man’s signature.
1623. Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. Test., Pref. 18. Affecting too much the analogicall Latine, he leaves many times untold the true sense of our Saxon.
1724. Watts, Log. (J.). When a word … is attributed to several other objects, not by way of resemblance, but on the account of some evident reference to the original idea, this is peculiarly called an analogical word.
1843. Mill, Logic, III. xx. § 1. When a country which has sent out colonies is termed the mother country, the expression is analogical.
† 4. So called by analogy; figurative. Obs.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., I. xlii. 235. The food wherewith Spirits are fed is analogical, spiritual and not corporal.
5. Of analogy; = ANALOGIC.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., xviii. 411. Argument in the analogical field.
1872. Minto, Eng. Lit., I. i. 47. The activity of his analogical faculty.
6. = ANALOGOUS. arch.
1644. Bulwer, Chiron., 15. Analogicall to this is that symboll of the Cynique.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., III. 156. Some Parallel and Analogical effects.
1666. Phil. Trans., I. 144. Being Analogical to our Moon, it is most likely they are moved in like manner.
1839. Hallam, Hist. Lit., IV. IV. viii. 348. Zootomy has been suggested as a better name [than Animal Anatomy] but it is not quite analogical to anatomy.
