lachrymal

English

Alternative forms

• lacrimal, lacrymal

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin lachrymālis, from lachryma (“a tear”) +‎ -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of lacrimal.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlak.ɹɪm.əl/, /ˈlak.ɹɪm.l̩/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlæk.ɹəm.əl/
• Rhymes: -ækɹɪməl

Adjective

lachrymal (not comparable)

1. (formal, literary) Connected with weeping or tears.
2. (anatomy) Alternative spelling of lacrimal.

Derived terms

• lachrymal bone
• lachrymal gland
• lachrymal sac
• lachrymal urn
• lachrymal vase
• lachrymary
• lachrymatory
• lachrymose
• nasolachrymal

 

Translations

of or relating to tears — see lacrimal

Noun

lachrymal (plural lachrymals)

1. A lachrymatory (vase intended for collecting tears).
2. (humorous, in the plural) Lachrymal feelings or organs.
   • 1843, “Habits of Reading”, in The Mother's Magazine:

     It is truly melancholy to see so many minds employed in catering for the risibles and lachrymals of weak men and silly women

3. (anatomy) Alternative spelling of lacrimal.

References

• “lachrymal”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “lachrymal”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.