Nepticulidæ (neptikulide)

pl. [NL., Neptunian theory; an opponent of the Vulcan ists. Whenever a zealous Neptunist wished to draw the old man [Desmarest] into an argument, he was satisfied with replying "Go and see." Sir C. Lyell , Prin. of Geol. (ed. 1835), I. 87. II. a . Of, pertaining to, or advocating the Neptunian theory. For the untenable Neptunist hypothesis, a erting a once-universal aqueous action unlike the present, Hutton substituted an aqueous action, marine and fluviatile, continuously operating as we now see it, antagonized by a periodic igneous action, H. Spencer , Study of Sociol., p. 227.