ad. Gr. σφαιρο-, combining form of σφαῖρα ball, SPHERE, employed in a considerable number of terms, esp. Bot. and Zool., of which only a few are naturalized in form or have any general currency. Sphæroblast Bot. (see quot.). Sphærocobaltite Min., ‘carbonate of cobalt, found in small spherical masses’ (Chester). Sphærodactyle, a species of humming-bird. Sphærolite (see quot.). † Sphæromachy (see quot.). Sphærospore Bot. (see quot.). Sphærostilbite Min., ‘a variety of stilbite, occurring in radiated spheres’ (Chester).
1901. H. M. Ward, Diseases in Plants, xxiv. 225. Wood-nodules or *Sphaeroblasts are curious marble-like masses of wood which protrude with a covering of bark from old trunks of Beeches, etc.
1881. Watts, Dict. Chem., 3rd Suppl., *Sphærocobaltite, or Cobalt-spar, is a native carbonate of cobalt belonging to the calcspar-group, black on the outside, red within.
1860. Gosse, Rom. Nat. Hist., 149. The little *sphærodactyle,—which we might put into a quill-barrel, and carry home in the waistcoat pocket.
1881. Watts, Dict. Chem., 3rd Suppl., *Sphærolite, a volcanic glass from the lava of Antisana.
1658. Phillips, *Sphæromachy, a playing at bowls, or tennis.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1081/1. *Sphærospore, the quadruple spore of some algals.
1850. Daubeny, Atom. The. (ed. 2), xii. 410. The former combinations are called hydrosilicates…. Example: *Sphærostilbite.
