Also 6–8 quadrat. [ad. L. quadrāt-um sb., neut. sing. of quadrātus QUADRATE a.1: cf. QUADRANT sb.2 and QUADRAT.]
† 1. A square; a square area or space; also, a rectangle or rectangular space. Obs.
1471. Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 17. What brede eche towr takythe within iche corner of the quadrate ovyrthwert the dorys.
1483. [see QUADRATE a. 1].
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. xxi. When any two quadrates be set forth, howe to make a squire about the one quadrate, whiche shall be equall to the other quadrate.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, III. ii. 46. A Quadrat of ground will bee of men two times and one third more broade then long.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Gard. Cyrus, 45. The Labyrinth of Crete, built upon a long quadrate, containing five large squares.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 62. The Powers Militant, That stood for Heav’n, in mighty Quadrate joyn’d.
1680. T. Lawson, Mite Treas., 33. Their … Cone, Cylinder, Parallelogram, Quadrat [etc.].
† b. A square number, the square of a number.
1590. Recorde, etc. Gr. Artes (1640), 575. That number is called a Quadrate, which is made by the multiplication of two equal numbers.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 217. The life of man, whose Period … he placed in the Quadrate of 9. or 9. times 9. that is, 81.
† c. A group of four things. = QUATERNION 1.
1637. Saltonstall, Eusebius’ Life Constantine, 139. By the number of twice two, hee invented the quadrate of the foure Elements.
2. A square or rectangular plate or block. rare.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. II. cxliii. A leaden Quadrate swayes hard on that part That’s fit for burdens.
1799. W. Tooke, View Russian Emp., I. 50. It was constructed of huge quadrats of ice hewn in the manner of free-stone.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Old Benchers I. T. His person was a quadrate, his step massy and elephantine.
† 3. Astron. a. Quadrate aspect; quadrature. Obs.
1665–6. Phil. Trans., I. 5. This Comet … having been in Quadrat with the Sun, it should still descend.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, I. vi. 22. The Moon, on the day of the Last Quadrate decreasing, makes as high a Water, sometimes higher than at the first in the Increase.
1695. Congreve, Love for L., II. v. Can judge … of sextiles, quadrates, trines and oppositions.
† b. A right angle. Obs. rare–1.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, I. vi. 18. In the one the Moon is conjoin’d with the Sun in diameter-line making no Angle, in the Other making a Quadrate, the utmost distance from the Conjunction and Opposition.
4. Anat. a. The quadrate bone. b. A quadrate muscle.
1872. Mivart, Anat., 121. Other bones, the lowest of which is termed the Quadrate.
1878. [see QUADRATO- 2].
1883. Martin & Moale, Vertebr. Dissect., II. 103. The quadrates, projecting ventrally and forward and bearing the articular facets for the mandible.
