a. [ad. F. cadavéreux, -euse, ad. L. cadāverōs-us corpse-like, f. cadāver: see above.] Of or belonging to a corpse; such as characterizes a corpse, corpse-like.
1627. Feltham, Resolves, II. xxxiv. A cadauerous man, composed of Diseases and Complaints.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. (1656), § 38. By … continuall sight of Anatomies, Skeletons, or Cadaverous reliques.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., § 26. Cadaverous dissection of bodies.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., IV. xi. 205. Some cadaverous smell those Ravens discover in the Air.
1776. Withering, Bot. Arrangem. (1796), IV. 374. Cadaverous smell of the Phallus impudicus.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., II. ii. § 11 (1864), 172. The cadaverous odour is of the repulsive kind.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, 36. The strange, unusual … smell, and the cadaverous light.
b. esp. Of corpse-like or deadly pallor.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, III. 67. His eye was excellent at the instant discovery of a cadaverous face … this made him at the first sight of sick Prince Henry, to get himself out of sight.
a. 1713. Ellwood, Life, 246. He found John Milton sitting in an Elbow Chair … pale, but not cadaverous.
1820. W. Irving, Sk. Bk., II. 145. He has a cadaverous countenance, full of cavities and projections.
1835. Willis, Pencillings, I. vi. 38.
