a. [f. prec. + -AL.]
1. Pertaining to, characterized by, or involving the succession of persons as heirs, rulers, or the like; passing or proceeding by succession or descent; often with special reference to the apostolic succession.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 306. To bring this whole monarchiall Isle from the name, honor and title of successionall regality, to be vnder a Viceroyes gouernment.
1637. Heylin, Antid. Lincoln., xi. 87. Many things come unto our hands by a successionall tradition. Ibid. (1652), Cosmogr., II. 61. [Alsatia] Governed for the Emperours by Provinciall Earls,… accomptable to the Emperours under whom they served; in the end made hereditarie and successionall unto their posterities.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., 53. Christ, the Institutor of an authoritative and successional Ministry.
1835. Fraser’s Mag., XI. 283. He might have had the civility to predict a successional husband.
1845. D. King, in Ess. Chr. Union, v. 245. He … had them regularly consecrated by English bishops, and so qualified to keep up and transmit the successional virtue!
a. 1854. W. Jay, Autobiogr. (1855), xiv. 127. The system of providing for places by a merely successional supply.
2. Of things: Following one upon another; occurring in succession; involved in a succession.
1685. H. More, Paralip. Prophet., xxxix. 340. Both the Cause and the Effect is successional through many Ages.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac., III. Misc. IV. i. 194. The Question is, ‘What constitutes the We or I?’ And, ‘Whether the I of this instant, be the same with that of any instant preceding, or to come.’… So that the same successional We or I must remain still, on this account, undecided.
1827. De Quincey, Lessing, Wks. 1859, XIII. 289. Successional signs can express none but successional objects, or those of which the parts are in succession.
1872. Humphry, Myology, 8. The peculiar vibratory or successional manner of action of the several parts of a fibre.
1875. Croll, Climate & Time, x. 181. In a successional descent of surface-films from above downwards.
b. In technical use (chiefly Hort.; cf. SUCCESSION 15).
1786. Abercrombie, Gard. Assist., 100. The pine apple plants—now in fruit, must not be shifted, only the young successional pines.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Plants (1836), 623. The winter variety [of pea] is sown in September and October, and the summer at different periods, from February to June, for successional cuttings. Ibid. (1842), Suburban Hort., 435. Successional cropping is that in which the ground is wholly occupied with one crop at one time, to be succeeded by another crop, also wholly of one kind.
1866. R. Owen, Anat. Vertebrates, I. § 70. 375. The floor of the alveolus … forms … the roof of a lower vault, in which the germ of a successional tooth … is in course of developement.
1881. Encycl. Brit., XII. 249/2. If sown in spring it [sc. the Intermediate Stock] blooms in autumn, and furnishes a useful successional crop of flowers.
1892. Gardener’s Chron., 27 Aug., 239/3. The flowers are successional for many months.
Hence Successionally adv., by succession.
1846. in Worcester (citing Ecl. Rev.).
