adelphophagy
|a-del-pho-pha-gy|
C2
🇺🇸
/əˌdɛlfoʊˈfeɪdʒi/
🇬🇧
/əˌdɛlfəˈfeɪdʒi/
sibling consumption
Etymology
Etymology Information
'adelphophagy' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'adelphos' meaning 'brother' and 'phagein' meaning 'to eat'.
Historical Evolution
'adelphophagy' was directly borrowed from Greek into English, maintaining its original meaning.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'the act of eating a brother', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the consumption of one sibling by another, especially in the context of embryonic development.
In some shark species, adelphophagy occurs when the stronger embryo consumes its siblings.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/05 10:36