comb. form of L. vermi-s (cf. VERMES), used in various words, as VERMICIDE, VERMIFORM a., VERMIFUGE, VERMIPAROUS a., etc.; also as a base in a few other terms, as Vermiceous a., of or pertaining to worms; wormy (Webster, 1847); Vermicious a., = prec. (Craig, 1849); Vermidom [cf. L. dom-us house] Zool. (see quots.); Vermiferous a. [-FEROUS], producing worms; Vermigerous a. [-GEROUS], infested with intestinal worms.
1877. Huxley, Anat. Inv. Anim., v. 242. The ova undergo their development … in masses of gelatinous matter which adhere to the tubes of the *vermidom in Protula.
1894. Jrnl. Marine Zool., May, 57. The examples … were not all from the same cluster of tubes or vermidom.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., x. (1857), 206. Many a half-hour have I spent beside it,… watching its numerous inhabitants,—insect, reptilian, and *vermiferous.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 129. The inexperienced mother is recommended to give … cakes and puddings tainted with Tansy to her *vermigerous child.
1860. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 8), XXI. 974/1. It must not … be concluded, that … every individual [animal] is vermigerous.
