1998, Sayre N. Greenfield,The Ends of Allegory[1],Delaware,→ISBN, page142:
To give an instance from theanimalian side of Linnaeus's efforts, he may have classified the swift (Hirundo apus) and the swallow (Hirundo rustica) together because of general similarity … .
(loosely) Of ananimal or animals, usually including humans but sometimes connoting nonhuman nature.
We stood before the Lord in the high-backed chair, and I saw that the wood figures of his regal throne were, of course,animalian, feline and diabolical.
(loosely,rare) Like that of ananimal or animals, usually including humans but sometimes connoting nonhuman nature.
He did not look at her because he did not wish to see that deliciouslyanimalian slit of her mouth, naked and red, beneath the white mask that made her eyes look so feline.
2007, Lynn Stegner,Because a Fire Was in My Head[4],Nebraska,→ISBN, page202:
His big hands clutched him about the collar of the suit that had once been fine, and he was shaking him withanimalian violence, shoving him[…].
