anisodontous
|an-i-so-don-tous|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪsəˈdɑːntəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪsəˈdɒntəs/
unequal teeth
Etymology
'anisodontous' originates from Greek, specifically from 'anisos' meaning 'unequal' and 'odous/odont-' meaning 'tooth', with the adjectival suffix '-ous'.
'anisodontous' was formed in Neo-Latin/technical scientific usage from Greek elements ('anisos' + 'odont-') and entered modern English chiefly through zoological and paleontological literature, preserving the compound form.
Initially it literally meant 'unequal-toothed' in form, and over time it has retained that technical biological meaning of 'having unequal tooth size.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having teeth of unequal size; characterized by unequal dentition (used especially in zoology and paleontology).
The fossil specimen displayed an anisodontous dentition, indicating variation in tooth size across the jaw.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/17 09:55