[L., a. Gr. κρύπτη vault, f. κρυπτός hidden, concealed.]
† 1. = CRYPT sb. 1, 2. Obs.
1563. Homilies, II. Idolatry, III. (1859), 256. Christians had … caves under the ground called Cryptae, where they for fear of persecution assembled secretly together.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 145. In a low crypta or vaulted chappell which is directly under the quire.
1639. in Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 128. In this of St. Calixtus there are 3 Cryptas one above another.
1703. Battely, Antiq. Canterb., II. 28. They were commonly called Cripta, or rather Crypta.
2. Anat. = CRYPT sb. 4.
1860. in Mayne, Expos. Lex.
b. Bot. (See quots.)
1866. Treas. Bot., Crypta, the sunken glands or cysts which occur in dotted leaves.
1882. Syd. Soc. Lex., Cryptæ … in Botany, the oil receptacles of a leaf.
