a. Also 7 cronical(l, chronicall. [f. as CHRONIC a. + -AL 1.]
† 1. Of or relating to verbal tense. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 92. The frenche tonge useth never augmentation neyther chronical nor sillabical in theyr fyrst sillables.
1775. in Ash.
2. Of or pertaining to time, regulated by time.
1647. Torshell, in Phœnix (1721), I. 102. The continuance and Chronical method of the Scripture-history.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., V. 138. Our knowledge is chronical and successive, and cannot grasp all things at once.
1802. Bentham, Princ. Penal Law, Wks. 1843, I. 456. Punishments of the pecuniary or chronical class … are susceptible of being exactly measured.
1859. R. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. Geogr. Soc., XXIX. 168. According to the people, whose greatest chronical measure is a Masika, or rainy season.
3. Of disease: = CHRONIC 2.
1601. T. Wright, Climact. Years (1604), 13. There are two sorts of diseases, sharpe and cronicall.
1694. Child, Disc. Trade (ed. 4), 184. Desperate and acute diseases, as well as chronical.
1762. Goldsm., Misc. Wks. (1837), III. 309. The diseases of the poor … were mostly chronical.
1805. W. Saunders, Min. Waters, 198. Afflicted with … a chronical diarrhœa, [etc.].
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 20. The acute disease, changing into chronical.
b. transf.
1672–3. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 93. Chronical Negligence and Ignorance.
1682. H. More, Annot. Glanvill’s Lux O., 35. Those seven Chronical Sleepers that slept in a Cave from Decius his time to the reign of Theodosius junior.
