[ad. L. termes, termit-em: see TERMES. So F. termite (Dict. Acad., 1835).
In early use always in pl. termites, orig. the L. plural, in 3 syllables, of termēs, but at length treated as Eng. and Fr. pl. in 2 syllables, whence singular termite: cf. -ITE 2.]
A pseudoneuropterous social insect of the genus Termes or family Termitidæ, chiefly tropical, and very destructive to timber; also called white ant.
1781. Smeathman, in Phil. Trans., LXXI. 160. These turret nests, built by two different species of Termites.
1815. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., ix. (1818), I. 261. None of them do their business so expeditiously or effectually as the Termites.
1859. R. F. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. Geog. Soc., XXIX. 173. They [ant-hills] are generally built by the termite under some shady tree, which prevents too rapid drying.
1880. Even. Standard, 3 April, 4/3. Tho whole village is said to be infested with the termite, which in the head resembles greatly the ant…. It attacks woodwork, which it eats away.
b. attrib., as termite ant; termite-hill, a conical mound constructed as a nest by termites.
1849. Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia, IV. 208. The Great Ant-eater, or Ant-bear…. The limbs are … furnished with huge hook-like claws well adapted for making forcible entrance into the solid dwellings of the termite ants.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., II. xv. 187. Rivers, lakes, and springs,… termite-hills, trees.
Hence Termitary, also in mod.L. form termitarium [-ARY1 B. 2, -ARIUM], a termites’ nest; Termitic a., of, pertaining to, or formed by termites; Termitid, Termitine a., belonging to the Termitidæ; sb. an insect of this family, a termite; Termitophagous a. [Gr. -φαγος eating], feeding upon or devouring termites; Termitophilous a. [Gr. φίλος loving], inhabiting the nests of termites, as certain beetles; so Termitophile, a termitophilous insect.
1863. Bates, Nat. Amazon, II. i. 63. The endless ramified galleries of which a Termitarium is composed.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., IV. xlix. 478. The formicary, the *termitary, the vespiary, and the bee hive send forth their thousands.
1881. Pinto, How I crossed Africa, I. v. 121. A soil … of *termitic formation.
1898. E. P. Evans, Evol. Ethics, vi. 211. An advanced state of termitic civilization.
1899. Camb. Nat. Hist., VI. 171. One member of this genus [Leptogenys] is of *Termitophagous habits.
1886. Schwarz, in Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, I. 160. In North America only a few *termitophilous species have hitherto been observed.
