quadrifurcate

English

Etymology 1

First attested in 1849; formed as quadri- (“four”) +‎ furcate (adjective); compare the post-Classical Latin quadrifurcātus (“four-pronged”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kwŏd'rĭfûrʹkāt, kwŏd'rĭfûrʹkət; IPA^(key): /ˌkwɒdɹɪˈfɜːkeɪt/, /ˌkwɒdɹɪˈfɜːkət/

Adjective

quadrifurcate (not comparable)

1. Branching fourfold; having four branches.

Synonyms

• (having four branches): quadrifurcated

References

• “quadrifurcate adj.” listed as a subentry of “quadri-, comb. form” in the Oxford English Dictionary [3rd ed., December 2007]

Etymology 2

First attested in 1886; formed as quadri- +‎ furcate (verb).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kwŏd'rĭfûrʹkāt, IPA^(key): /ˌkwɒdɹɪˈfɜːkeɪt/

Verb

quadrifurcate (third-person singular simple present quadrifurcates, present participle quadrifurcating, simple past and past participle quadrifurcated)

1. Furcate (fork or divide) into four branches or channels.
   • 1886, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, page 484:

     Once within the limits of the post-trochlear space, the tendon of this muscle behaves in a manner common to most birds — that is, it quadrifurcates, and each branch takes a course close up to the joints on their plantar aspects, […]