Also 5–6 uteryne, 7 uterin. [a. OF. uterin, -ine (F. utérin, -ine), or ad. late L. uterīnus (whence It., Sp., Pg. uterino), f. L. uterus UTERUS.]
A. adj. 1. Having the same mother, but not the same father. Also in fig. context.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 295. Medardus … and Gildardus,… Bothe breþer uteryne, borne in oon day.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 45. Melchy … Pantars brother … Weddyd iacobes modyr & gately. So iacob & ely wer bretherne vteryne.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VII. (Camden), 174. To be taken not only of the brother by father and mother but of the uterine and half brother also.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 359. Saint Peter was the onely vterine, and germane brother to saint Andrew.
c. 1629. Donne, Serm. (1640), 621. If Sodome and Jerusalem were Sisters, Babylon and we may be so too; uterin sisters of one wombe.
a. 1695. Wood, Ath. Oxon. (1721), II. 1094/2. Walter Pope, uterine Brother to Dr. Joh. Wilkins.
1703. Quick, Dec. Wife’s Sister, 19. His uterine Sister.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., III. viii. § 8. Brothers or sisters of the deceased by the mother only, who are called uterine.
1844. W. K. Kelly, trans. Michelet’s Hist. France, I. 561. The uterine sister of Henry III.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, i. 11. People are born with the moral … bias—uterine brothers with this diverging destination.
b. Related by blood through the mother. rare.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., X. 503. Whose Vterine blood he is, and present Brother … sprung from one Mother.
1816. Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, iv. (1818), 161. The property … devolves to his brothers or uterine uncles.
1888. N. & Q., 7th Ser. V. 493/2. The direct lineal ancestress in the female line, or what is sometimes termed umbilical or uterine ancestress.
c. (See quot.) rare–1.
1882. A. Macfarlane, Consanguinity, 11. The uterine system, that is, the system resulting from tracing kinship through females only.
2. Surg. Adapted for using or operating on or in the uterus or womb.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 239. Wee must proceede by the guide of a vterine probe.
1849. Lancet, 29 Dec., 699/2. Dr. Routh exhibited to the Society three uterine scarificators.
1857. Dunglison, Dict. Med. Sci., 851/2. Sound, Uterine, Uterine bougie.
1865. Lancet, 29 April, 465/1. The uterine tents made from dried stem of sea-tangle.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2685. Uterine dilator,… elevator, redressor, scarificator, speculum.
3. Of, pertaining or belonging to, the uterus; situated in, connected with, the womb.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VII. vii. 352. In hot climates and where the uterine parts exceed in heat.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., From a Turgescency or Inflation of the Uterine Vessels.
1788. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), I. 744/2. The Fallopian or uterine tubes, which open into the cavity of the uterus.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 191. In the fœtus, we note several contrivances for the uterine state.
1834. J. Forbes, trans. Laennec’s Dis. Chest (ed. 4), 665. The only arteries in which it can be supposed to be produced are the hypogastric, iliac, and uterine.
1838. Lancet, 7 July, 497/2. The diseases of the uterine organs.
1877. W. Turner, Hum. Anat., II. 519. A uterine venous plexus is arranged on and in the wall of the uterus.
b. Affecting, occurring or taking place in, the uterus.
Uterine souffle: see SOUFFLE, and cf. PLACENTAL 1.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Somerset., III. (1662), 20. Our Bath-waters … are good for uterine effects, proceeding from cold and windy Humours.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 77. This exotick acidity coagulating the blood … is the author of most of their uterine infirmities.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Maids that were … seiz’d with the Uterine Fury.
1752. Smellie, Midwifery, 142. Vomiting,… in a few,… prevails during the whole time of uterine gestation.
1771. Encycl. Brit., III. 163/1. of the Immoderate Flux of the Menses, or Uterine Hæmorrhage.
1838. Penny Cycl., X. 333/2. The embryo … during the rest of its uterine life has been denominated the fœtus.
1839. C. West, trans. Naegele’s Auscultation, 13. The uterine sound varies in its intensity … within a very short time.
1851. E. Hamilton, Flora Homœop., I. 111. Boerhaave … employed it in uterine diseases.
1889. Buck’s Handbk. Med. Sci., VII. 448/1. This congestion causes … painful uterine contractions.
c. Suitable or adapted for remedying or aiding the uterus.
1771. Encycl. Brit., III. 163/1. Uterine cathartics are aloes, myrrh, bryony, colocynthus [etc.].
1849. Lancet, 22 Dec., 661/2. A new uterine supporter.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2685/1. Uterine douche, a form of irrigator for the uterus.
4. Of the nature of a uterus.
1841. T. R. Jones, Anim. Kingd., 201. The exact nature of the uterine sacculus … is imperfectly understood.
5. Of vellum: Prepared from the skin of a fœtal or abortive calf or lamb.
1870. Rock, Text. Fabr., p. cxxxv. That now rare kind of vellum called, among manuscript collectors, ‘uterine.’
† B. sb. A medicine or herb remedial in uterine affections. Obs. Cf. UTERINE a. 3 c.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 460. Uterines, in … flux, inflammation, scirrhus and ulcers of the womb.
1697. Floyer, Eng. Baths, i. 18. In the Mola Uteri, let Women swim in salt Water, or apply the Steam of it in which Uterines are boyl’d.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 81. Some commend it as a good Uterine.
