quincuncial

English

Etymology

From Latin quincuncialis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kwɪnˈkʌnʃəl/

Adjective

quincuncial (comparative more quincuncial, superlative most quincuncial)

1. Arranged in a quincunx.
   • 1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter I.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 98:

     Of this Quincunciall Ordination the Ancients practiſed much[,] diſcourſed little; […]

   • 1985, Lawrence Durrell, Quinx (Avignon Quintet), Faber & Faber, published 2004, page 1297:

     In architecture the quincunxial shape was considered a sort of housing for the divine power – a battery, if you like, which gathered into itself the divinity as it tried to pour earthward, to earth itself – just like an electrical current does.

2. (botany) Having the leaves of a pentamerous calyx or corolla so imbricated that two are exterior, two are interior, and the other has one edge exterior and one interior.

   quincuncial aestivation

Derived terms

• quincuncially
• quincuncial phyllotaxy

Translations

arranged in a quincunx

• Romanian: cvincuncial (ro)