A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to Cæsar or the Cæsars.
1659. Howell, Lex. Tetragl., To Philol., The Italian may be also calld … the Imperiall Cæsarean language.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., 95. A short Cæsarian conquest overcoming without a blow.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 402. The Cæsarean ornaments.
1876. Emerson, Ess., Ser. II. iv. 105. Men of the right Cæsarian pattern.
2. spec. (in Obstet. Surg.) Cæsarean birth, operation, section, the delivery of a child by cutting through the walls of the abdomen when delivery cannot take place in the natural way, as was done in the case of Julius Cæsar. Also fig.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 344. Concerning this Cæsarian section.
1661. Hickeringill, Jamaica, 40. Neither heat nor cold can baracade the … womb of the earth from the Cæsarean Section … of the greedy Miners.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Sometimes also denominated the Cæsarian birth … as were [born] C. Julius Cæsar, Scipio Africanus, Manlius, and our Edward VI.
1818. Cruise, Digest, I. 163. If the wife dies in childbed, and the issue is taken out of the womb by the Cæsarean operation, the husband will not be entitled to curtesy.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IV. II. v. 71. The Principality of Orange … clearly Prussia’s; but it lies embedded deep in the belly of France: that will be a Cæsarean operation for you!
B. sb.
3. An adherent of Cæsar, of the Emperor (against the Pope), or of an imperial system.
1528. Lett., in Brewer’s Reign Hen. VIII, II. 323. The archbishop of Capua, and others of the Cæsarians.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 182. If any such thing should by the Cæsarients … be attempted.
1618. Bolton, Florus (1636), 282. The eagernesse of the Cæsarians.
1869. Seeley, Lect. & Ess., i. 2. Then the Cæsarians become … enlightened Liberals.
