a. (sb.) [f. L. catēnāri-us CATENARY (f. catēna chain) + -AN.]

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  1.  Math. Catenarian curve = CATENARY. So catenarian arch, an arch of this shape; catenarian principle, the principle of constructing a suspension bridge with a chain of this shape.

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1751.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 179, ¶ 8. The properties of the catenarian curve.

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1788.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 547. The catenarian arch … its nature proves it to be in equilibrio in every point.

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1831.  J. Holland, Manuf. Metals, I. 107. The new bridge constructed upon the catenarian principle.

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  b.  as sb. = CATENARY.

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1872.  Contemp. Rev., XX. 477. It may be a catenarian, a cycloid, a spiral.

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  2.  Of the nature of a chain, chainlike.

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1863.  Lepsius’ Stand. Alphabet, 24. The Indians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Slavonians, and Germans form a catenarian series.

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