ophidian
Use Ophidian in a sentence
i adjective
1.
belonging or pertaining to the suborder Ophidia (Serpentes), comprising the snakes.
noun
2.
a snake.
Origin:
1820–30; < Neo-Latin Ophidi(a) (plural) name of the suborder (< Greek ophídion (singular), equivalent to óph(is) serpent + -idion diminutive suffix) + -an
1820–30; < Neo-Latin Ophidi(a) (plural) name of the suborder (< Greek ophídion (singular), equivalent to óph(is) serpent + -idion diminutive suffix) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To ophidian
Collins
World English Dictionary
ophidian (əʊˈfɪdɪən) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | snakelike |
| 2. | of, relating to, or belonging to the Ophidia, a suborder of reptiles that comprises the snakes |
| —n | |
| 3. | any reptile of the suborder Ophidia; a snake |
| [C19: from New Latin Ophidia name of suborder, from Greek ophidion, from ophis snake] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Ophidian
is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
ophidian
"pertaining to snakes," 1883, from Gk. ophidion, dim. of ophis "serpent," of unknown origin. Hence, ophiolatry "serpent-worship" (1862), and the 2c. sect of the Ophitæ, who revered the serpent as the symbol of divine wisdom. Also ophiomancy (1683), the ancient art of divination by the movements
of snakes.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| ophidian (ō-fĭd'ē-ən) Pronunciation Key
A member of the suborder Ophidia or Serpentes; a snake. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Sensory cues used by rattlesnakes in their recognition of ophidian enemies.
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