a. and sb. Forms: 4–7 lineall, 5–6 liniall, (5 linealle, -yalle, 6 lin-, lyneal(l, -iall, -yall), 6– lineal. [a. F. lineal, f. late L. līneālis, f. līnea LINE sb.2]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to a line or lines; consisting of lines. † Lineal alphabet: one in which the symbols consist of lines. Lineal demonstration: one performed by means of lines. Lineal translation: one in which the original is rendered line for line (rare). Lineal number, perspective: see LINEAR. Of writing: Arranged in regular lines.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxxvi. (1495), 926. The nombre lineall begynnyth fro one and is wryte arowe and lyne vnto endlesse.
c. 1430. Art Nombryng, 14. Of nombres one is lyneal, anoþer superficialle, anoþer quadrat, anoþer cubike or hoole.
1624. Wotton, Elem. Arch., I. 50. Errors euer occurring more easily in the management of grosse Materials, then Lineall Designes.
1709. J. Ward, Introd. Math., I. ii. (1734), 10. I might have here inserted a Lineal Demonstration of this Rule of Addition.
1792. W. Roberts, Looker-On, No. 7 (1794), I. 91. This way of writing may be as swift, lineal, and legible, as the operations of daylight.
1797. Holcroft, Stolberg’s Trav. (ed. 2), III. lxxiii. 113. They were not … ignorant of lineal perspective.
1875. E. C. Stedman, Victorian Poets, 371. He now is said to be engaged upon a lineal and literal translation of Virgil.
b. Of measures: Relating to a single dimension of space; = LINEAR a. 3.
a. 1696. Scarburgh, Euclid (1705), 92. And let this measure be called the Lineal Unite.
1848. Gregory’s Mathematics (ed. 3), 120. An inch is the smallest lineal measure to which a name is given.
1872. Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 129. The claim is 1,000 feet lineal measurement in length.
2. a. Of descent, ancestry, consanguinity, inheritance or succession (hence also of a descendant, ancestor, heir, etc.): That is in the direct line; opposed to collateral.
1426. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 132. Henry the sext, is truly borne heir unto the corone of Fraunce by lynyalle successioun.
1466. Paston Lett., II. 285. They shewed a lineall discent, how their first ancetor, Wulstan, came out of France.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 178. I am the … lyneall heyre.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. xi. 12. And after them the royall issue came Which of them sprung by lineall descent.
1690. Locke, Govt., I. xi. § 161. The Prime and Ancient Right of Lineal Succession to any thing.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 172, ¶ 8. Enriched in the common course of lineal descent.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 203. Lineal consanguinity is that which subsists between persons, of whom one is descended in a direct line from the other.
1817. Moore, Lalla R., 1. Abdalla … a lineal descendant from the Great Zingis.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy-bk. Prop. Law, x. 65. Under recent legislation the father and other lineal ancestors are let in in default of lineal heirs.
1880. Haughton, Phys. Geog., vi. 262. Whether they may not both be the lineal descendants of older and extinct king crabs.
b. Pertaining to or transmitted by lineal descent. Lineal warranty (see quot. 1767).
1486. in Surtees Misc. (1888), 54. By cource of liniall possession.
1570. T. Norton, trans. Nowell’s Catech. (1853), 173. The Jews claimed … the Church of God as peculiar and by lineal right due to their nation.
1626. D’Ewes, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 217. To whome the crowne of his auncestors and predecessors is now devolved by lineall right.
1719. Young, Busiris, I. i. (1757), 13. Busiris, who now reigns, was first of males In lineal blood, to which this crown descends.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 301. Lineal warranty was where the heir derived, or might by possibility have derived, his title to the land warranted, either from or through the ancestor who made the warranty.
1839. Bailey, Festus, viii. (1848), 34. As if they waged some lineal feud with time.
1858. Gladstone, Homer, III. 520. In lineal dignity, he [Anchises] was even before Priam.
c. Of persons: Lineally descended (rare). † Also, of children, legitimate (obs.).
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. ii. 82. That faire Queene Isabel … Was Lineall of the Lady Ermengare.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lvii. 165. Although it was the lot of Henry the first to have many children, yet it was not his happinesse to have many lineal.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., Wks. 1738, II. 79. In the East-Angles, Edmund lineal from the ancient stock of those Kings,… was … crown’d at Bury.
1693. Dryden, To Congreve, 44. For only you are lineal to the throne.
1800. Asiatic Ann. Reg., Chron., 35/1. The reestablishment of the ancient and lineal family on the throne.
1821. Keats, Lamia, I. 332. A real woman, lineal indeed From Pyrrha’s pebbles or old Adam’s seed.
† B. sb. Obs.
1. Genealogy, pedigree.
1426. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 137. Don in ordre by corious lynealle.
2. One who is related in the direct line. rare.
1757. Foote, Author, II. Wks. 1799, I. 156. There’s seven yards more of lineals, besides three of collaterals.
