before a vowel strept-, combining form of Gr. στρεπτός twisted (f. στρέφ-ειν to turn, twist); used in many scientific terms, as Streptaster [Gr. ἀστήρ star], a form of sponge-spicule (see quot. 1888). Streptobacilli [BACILLUS] sb. pl., bacilli arranged in chains. Streptobacteria [BACTERIUM] sb. pl., bacteria linked together like a chain. Streptococcolysin, also (in shortened form) Streptocolysin, ‘a hemolysin destructive to streptococci, formed when virulent streptococci are grown in blood serum’ (Dorland, Med. Dict., 1913). Streptocyte [-CYTE], an amœbiform body occurring in bead-like strings from the vesicles of foot-and-mouth disease. Streptolysin [LYSIN] = Streptococcolysin. Streptoneural, -neurous adjs., belonging to or characteristic of the Streptoneura, a branch of Gastropoda in which the loop of visceral nerves embracing the intestine is twisted into a figure-of-eight. Streptophiurid a., pertaining to or connected with the Streptophiuræ, a subdivision of Ophiuroidea; sb. an individual of this subdivision. Streptospondylian, -spondyline, -spondylous adjs., pertaining to the genus Streptospondylus of fossil crocodiles, in which the vertebral articulations are apparently reversed. Streptostylic, -stylicate adjs. [Gr. στῦλος pillar], pertaining to or connected with the Streptostylica, that one of the two main divisions of Reptiles (in Stannius’ classification) in which the quadrate bone is freely articulated with the skull.
1888. W. J. Sollas, in Challenger Rep., XXV. p. lxiii. The asters are divided into two subsections, the true asters or euasters, and the *streptasters or those in which the actines do not proceed from a centre, but from a longer or shorter axis, which is usually spiral.
1900. E. A. Minchin, in Ray Lankester’s Treat. Zool., II. Sponges, 134.
1903. Thayer, Schmaus’ Path. & Pathol. Anat., 202. Bacilli. Long or short rods, propagate by fission or spores; the former by fission or crosswise, the younger forms separating or connected (*streptobacilli).
1888. *Streptobacteria (see Diplococci s.v. DIPLO-).
1891. G. S. Woodhead, Bacteria, 31. In the rod-shaped bacteria this division takes place … and when it is imperfect or incomplete it gives rise to chain-bacteria or Strepto-bacteria.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 688. Schottelius found in the contents of foot-and-mouth vesicles peculiar bodies which he termed *streptocytes.
1904. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 10 Sept., 571. The neutralization curves of … bodies and their antibodies: the rennet…, the vibriolysin, the staphylolysin, and the *streptolysin.
1883. Encycl. Brit., XVI. 646/2. The *Streptoneurous condition of the visceral loop in Zygobranchia.
1888. Rolleston & Jackson, Anim. Life, 111. Certain streptoneurous Gastropoda Anisopleura.
1892. Proc. Zool. Soc., 183. Ophiobyrsa hystricis. The largest *Streptophiurid found within the British area is the species so named by Mr. Lyman.
1849. A. G. Melville, in Phil. Trans., CXXXIX. 286. The *Streptospondylian form of the body of a vertebra. Ibid. The Streptospondylian type is not … persistent.
1892. Proc. Zool. Soc., 179. Ophioteresis is a *streptospondyline Ophiurid.
1901. Nature, 14 March, 462/2. The *streptostylic types appear first in the Jurassic as Lacertilia.
1887. E. D. Cope, Orig. Fittest, xi. 337. The existing *streptostylicate orders have advanced beyond their Permian ancestors.
