a. (sb.) [f. prec. + -AL.] Of or pertaining to transition; characterized by or involving transition; intermediate.
c. 1810. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1838), III. 262. The Jewish Rabbis … represented the Millennium as the preparative and transitional state to perfect spiritualization.
1859. Darwin, Orig. Spec., vi. (1860), 172. By this theory innumerable transitional forms must have existed.
1867. A. J. Ellis, E. E. Pronunc., I. i. 30. Shakspere and Milton are transitional between Spenser and Dryden.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. i. 3. At a transitional period in the world’s developement.
1874. Parker, Goth. Archit., I. iii. 58. The arches are transitional, two being round and two pointed.
b. Transitional case in grammar, a case in some languages expressing motion toward.
1890. A. S. Gatschet, Gram. Klamath Lang., 484. Transitional case in -na…. This locative case-suffix … corresponds to our to, toward, into, in.
B. ellipt. as sb. (in quot. for transitional cell: cf. quot. 1904 s. v. MONONUCLEAR).
1904. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 10 Sept., 583. They [mononuclear white blood cells] become transformed in the blood (according to Ehrlich) into the transitionals.
Hence Transitionally adv., Transitionalness.
1867. Chicago Tribune, 25 Sept., 4/1. The evening marking the completion of the office, which has long been in that state of progress towards perfection known as the transitionally imperfect.
1874. Ruskin, Fors Clav., xliv. 164. This plate of mine, melted down, after being transitionally serviceable to the burglar, will enter again into the same functions among the silver of the world.
1896. Scot. Leader, 1 Jan., 7. A deep sense of the transitionalness of conclusions which were once thought to be for all time.
