a. and sb. Now rare. [See SUB- 1 a and TERRESTRIAL.] A. adj.
1. = SUBTERRANEAN 1. Now rare.
1613. M. Ridley, Magn. Bodies, Pref. 2. For searchers of minerals, mettals, sea-coles, and other subterestrial bodies.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 891. Bees subterrestrial have another form and nature.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 87. Hot Springs or subterrestrial Exhalations.
1730. Fielding, Tom Thumb, Pref., Wks. 1882, VIII. 351. Those two extremities of style Mr. Dryden illustrates by the familiar image of two inns, which I shall term the aërial and the subterrestrial.
1885. W. K. Parker, Mammal. Desc., vi. 148. The mole did not become subterrestial just lately.
† 2. = SUBTERRANEAN 2. Obs.
1615. W. Hull, Mirr. Maj., 68. The Popes pretended Supremacie ouer coelestiall, terrestriall, and subterrestriall creatures.
1643. R. O., Man’s Mort., v. 27. Angels that are highest in dignitie, and so coelesteiall;… Divels and Death the lowest, and so subterrestriall.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. ii. 8. Every creature, invisible or visible,… celestiall or supercelestiall, terrestriall or subterrestriall.
1702. T. Brown, Lett. fr. Dead to Living, Wks. 1760, II. 209. The most reputable way of entring into this subterrestrial country [viz. Hell] is to come in at the fore-door.
B. sb. A creature living under ground.
1800. Coleridge, Piccolom., I. xi. 91. Mole-eyed, thou mayest but burrow in the earth, Blind as that subterrestrial.
