vulpinary

Adjective

vulpinary (comparative more vulpinary, superlative most vulpinary)

1. (rare) Crafty, sly, shrewd.
   • Vulpinary, [Vulpinaris,L.] crafty, subtile, wily.1721, An Universal Etymological English Dictionary, etc
   • It is well known that, in a late Struggle, when a certain vulpinary Stateſman attempted to force himſelf into Power, it was thought a ſufficient Objection to his Claim, that he was honoured with the Friendſhip and Intimacy of an eminent Perſonage, over whom he might be ſuppoſed to have too great an...1757 November 5–8, Evening Advertiser, “Of a late Resignation”, in The London Chronicle: or, Universal Evening Post, volume II, page 446, column 2
2. (rare) Relating to a fox.
   • Trust the native vine;—
     The Fox, the Bland, Schuylkill, and Catawba.
     These have withstood the chill northwestern blast,
     The burning sun-beams, and the summer's drought,
     The shade of trees, and most untimely rains.
     While naught of tillage at the root appears,
     No pruning knife has lopped the useless...1827, Isaac G. Hutton, The vigneron; an essay on the culture of the grape and the making of wine, pages 15–16
   • I belonged to this latter division—not that I had any idea of a run, but, having viewed the fox take that ascent, I wished to see how they would tackle him now that the crowd was tolerably well disposed of. […] The Hassocks, where this day’s who-whoop was sounded, seems be the vulpinary Golgotha of...1837, Sporting Magazine, page 394, columns 1 and 2
3. (rare) Not spiritual or religious; common.
   • Spiritive as Scriptural mana is a fruit, under which excellent and concentrative typive man hath freely given to him to name or choose for himself the due ratify, this beautiful or bountiful gateway to the high lens in the ùòmanative heavens, renders all vulpinary sorrel a garnishment suitable to...1848, The Dirge; or, A Voice in the Night. Originally Addressed to a Clergyman at Edinburgh, 1845., Edinburgh: […] Anderson and Bryce, […], →OCLC, pages 66–67, 208, 438, and 575