a. and sb. Also 6 sparmatyke, 7 -ique, 6 spermaticke, 6–7 -ike, 7 -ique, 7–8 -ick. [ad. med.L. spermatic-us, ad. Gr. σπερματικός, f. σπέρμα sperm, or OF. (also mod.F.) spermatique (1314), = It. spermatico, Sp. and Pg. espermatico.]
1. Containing, conveying, or producing sperm or seed; seminiferous.
1539. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 12. Vessels spermatike, wherin mannes seede lyeth.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 21 b/2. Not to touch, the foresayed testicles, nether anye of the spermaticke vessels.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 189. The seminall ejaculation proceeds … from the spermatick glandules.
1730. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos., I. iii. § 22. The Spermatic Arteries, coming on each Side out of the great Artery.
1797. M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 356. A disease of the spermatic chord which is not uncommon is an enlargement of its veins.
1857. Bullock, trans. Cazeaux’ Midwifery, 69. The numerous lymphatic vessels … contribute to the formation of the spermatic plexus.
1881. Mivart, Cat, 243. Within it is a layer of membrane—the spermatic fascia.
b. Full of, abounding in, sperm; generative, productive.
1619. Drayton, Owle, Poems 407. There in soft Downe the liquorous Sparrow sat, Pamper’d with meats, full spermatike and fat.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, IX. xxx. 139. Spermatick Nile, which brings Forth choise of Monsters.
1655. T. Vaughan, Euphrates, 32. This Primitive spermatic Ocean filled all that space which we now attribute to the Air.
2. Of the nature of sperm; resembling sperm.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., B iv b. They haue theyr breding and begynnynge of sparmatyke mater.
a. 1631. Donne, Elegies, viii. 8. Ranke sweaty froth … Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., III. xxix. A production of an organicall body out of the spermatic substance.
1693. Sir T. P. Blount, Nat. Hist., 28. It would sometimes let fall a Spermatick Juice, which … would thereupon produce another coral.
1828. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (ed. 2), IV. xlii. 153. This organ was a reservoir for the spermatic fluid.
1869. H. A. Nicholson, Man. Zool., 22. As a rule, the germ-cell is produced by one individual and the spermatic element by another.
b. transf. and fig. Resembling sperm, esp. in generative or reproductive power.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. III. iii. 44. The Stoics also held, there was … a spermatic efformative word, whereby the world was formed.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., x. 142. Having annexed to it some slates and other spermatick matter, which detracts from the goodness of its own nature.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., Wks. 1811, III. 168. You will be assumed into the Divine nature, or the spermatick reasons.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Wks. (Bohn), III. 80. I find certain books vital and spermatic, not leaving the reader what he was.
† 3. Directly derived from sperm (according to old physiological views). Obs.
1548–77. Vicary, Anat., ii. (1888), 18. The Grystle is a member simple and spermatike, next in hardnes to the bone.
1621. Lodge, Summary Du Bartas, I. 284. Stomake. The substance thereof is more sparmatique then sanguine.
1670. Phil. Trans., V. 2077. The two sorts of Parts of the Body, Spermatick and Sanguineous.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., XIV. 498. A Membrane is a Spermatick part, which being consumed is not regenerated.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The Ancients made a general Division of the Parts of the Animal Body into Spermatic and Fleshy.
4. Of qualities: Characteristic of, peculiar to, derived from, sperm.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. App. 101. Nought can e’er consume that centrall power Of hid spermatick life.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 269. Water … by the spermatick efflorescence of a Mineral Seed, becomes wrought into a Mineral Juyce.
1706. De Foe, Jure Div., Introd. Spermatick Vigour spreads the poison’d Race, Conveys Hereditary Crimes apace.
1866. Shuckard, Brit. Bees, 296. This in some cases has a spermatic odour.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 204. The first theory … views the growth of a tumour as due to the spermatic influence of certain cells upon those contiguous.
5. Existing in sperm.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 304. According to him, they are animated substances; the analogues of the spermatic animalcules of Leuenhoeck.
1857. Bullock, trans. Cazeaux’ Midwifery, 96. These minute bodies have been designated as the spermatic animalcules, or the spermatozoa.
6. As sb. in pl. The spermatic vessels.
1690. in Maidment, Bk. Sc. Pasquils (1868), 277. Spermaticks sink, true mother of discord, Inflam’d these Hectors.
1719. Quincy, Phys. Dict. (1722), s.v. Semen, In the Aorta, where the Spermaticks arise.
1857. Bullock, trans. Cazeaux’ Midwifery, 68. The arteries which supply the ovary are the spermatics, and proceed directly from the aorta.
1859. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., V. 651/1. This structure is found … in the internal spermatics, and in all the veins of the uterine substances.
