capsule

I. noun Etymology: French, from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa box — more at case Date: circa 1693 1. a. a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (as a knee joint or kidney) b. either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum 2. a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: as a. a dry dehiscent usually many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels b. the spore case of a moss 3. a shell usually of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins); also a usually medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents 4. an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism 5. an extremely brief condensation ; outline, survey 6. a. a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment b. a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight or emergency escape) II. transitive verb (capsuled; capsuling) Date: 1859 1. to equip with or enclose in a capsule 2. to condense into or devise in a compact form III. adjective Date: 1938 1. extremely brief 2. small and very compact