oblate 1
— oblately , adv.
/ob"layt, o blayt"/ , adj.
flattened at the poles, as a spheroid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its shorter axis (opposed to prolate ). See diag. under prolate .
[ 1695-1705; oblatus lengthened, equiv. to L ob- OB- + ( pro ) latus PROLATE ]
oblate 2
/ob"layt, o blayt"/ , n.
1. a person offered to the service of and living in a monastery, but not under monastic vows or full monastic rule.
2. a lay member of any of various Roman Catholic societies devoted to special religious work.
[ 1860-65; oblatus, suppletive ptp. of offerre to OFFER ]