a. [f. L. lacte-us (see LACTEAL) + -OUS.]

1

  1.  Of the nature of milk; milky.

2

1646.  [see LACTARY a.].

3

1666.  J. Smith, Old Age (ed. 2), 174. There is a lacteous, and a caseous part therein.

4

1696.  J. Edwards, Demonst. Existence God, II. 101. Others reckon it to be a lacteous excrement.

5

  fig.  1870.  Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. I. (1873), 188. Professors who were forever assiduously browsing in vales of Enna … slowly secreting lacteous facts.

6

  2.  Resembling milk; of the color of milk. † Lacteous circle: the Milky Way. † Lacteous star: one belonging to the Milky Way.

7

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. xii. 211. Though we leave out the Lacteous circle … yet [etc.].

8

1669.  W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 278. The lacteous cremor or milky juyce.

9

1677.  Plot, Oxfordsh., 48. Two small and very weak springs, of a lacteous colour but no such tast.

10

1682.  Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., III. § 24. Numerous numbers must be content to stand like lacteous or nebulous Stars.

11

1826.  Kirby & Sp., Entomol., IV. 278. Lacteous (lacteus), white with a slight tint of blue.

12

  † 3.  = LACTEAL a. 2. Obs.

13

1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., iii. 8. The Lungs are suitable for Respiration,… the Lacteous Vessels for the Reception of the Chyle.

14

  Hence Lacteously adv., in a lacteous manner (Webster, 1864).

15