Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Pertaining to or resembling a pill; pilular; hence, small; inconsiderable; trifling.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective rare Like a pill; small; insignificant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Resembling a pill or pilula.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin pilula ("a pill").

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Examples

Comments

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  • The tiny balls that form on one's woolens with wear are pilulous, if not trifling. Use a fabric shaver or de-piller if you must.

    January 10, 2012

  • When I was in elementary school (a very long time ago) there lived a man in the neighborhood who was known as "Crosspatch Crosley." Mr. Crosley may have had a gentle side to him but he never showed it to the kids. To set foot on his lawn would draw him out fuming like Grendel defending his hoard. Even to slacken your pace while using the sidewalk in front of his house would bring an angry glower from the window.

    I do not know whether he left a legacy of descendants or friends. I suspect that all evidence of his having existed is gone save for faint unpleasant memories in the minds of a few aged children. This is sad.

    I remember him here. Even this limerick is better than perfect oblivion.

    Old Crosspatch, by nature quite bilious,
    Took umbrage at much that was pilulous.
    Since posses of boys
    Do much that annoys
    He made it his business to bully us.

    October 10, 2015