a. [f. STERTOR + -OUS. Cf. F. stertoreux.] Characterized by, of the nature of, stertor or snoring: a. Path.

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1802.  Med. Jrnl., VIII. 80. The stertorous breathing [in apoplexy].

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1863.  Reade, Hard Cash, xxi. The stertorous breathing recommenced.

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1884.  M. Mackenzie, Dis. Throat & Nose, II. 176. He passed through an … attack of delirium tremens, falling into a deep stertorous sleep.

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  b.  gen.

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1842.  F. E. Paget, Milford Malvoisin, 98. The snortings and stertorous breathings which proceeded from Mr. Blote’s pew.

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1877–8.  Henley, in Ballades & Rondeaus (Canterb. Poets), 172. A stertorous after-dinner doze.

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  Hence Stertorously adv., Stertorousness.

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1832.  Warren, Diary Late Physic., II. vi. 272. He lay in a state of profound stupor, breathing stertorously.

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1853.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., xx. They find Krook still sleeping like one o’clock; that is to say, breathing stertorously with his chin upon his breast.

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1876.  Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (1878), 117. In coma … the patient breathes slowly, irregularly, and stertorously.

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1898.  Syd. Soc. Lex., Stertorousness.

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1910.  Ian Hay, in Blackw. Mag., Nov., 606/1. The driver of this one continued to slumber stertorously upon its summit.

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