a. [SUB- 20.] Somewhat or moderately acute.
a. of an angle.
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 220. The pupil is … protended on the anterior part into a subacute angle.
b. Zool. and Bot.
1822. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 222. Plagiostoma … sulcata: ovate, lower part subacute.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Plants (1836), 441. Sepals and petals subacute.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., 307. Involucre … of … subacute, equal bracts.
c. Med. Between acute and chronic.
1833. Cycl. Pract. Med., II. 731/2. The fever … symptoms … are … rather of a sub-acute than highly inflammatory character.
1878. Habershon, Dis. Abdomen (ed. 3), 8. Mucous patches and gummata, which may be mistaken for abscesses or subacute glossitis.
d. gen.
1861. Sat. Rev., 27 July, 90. When a civil servant’s mind has reached the stage of subacute discontent.
1896. Mrs. Caffyn, Quaker Grandmother, 139. The sub-acute passion of Harry Tryng blazed out in a few broken sentences.
So Subacutely adv., with or in a subacute form.
1852. Dana, Crust., II. 1194. Cephalothorax subacutely rostrate.
1872. H. A. Nicholson, Palæont., 326. Fins subacutely lobate.
