apterous
|ap-ter-ous|
C2
🇺🇸
/ˈæptərəs/
🇬🇧
/ˈæpt(ə)rəs/
without wings
Etymology
Etymology Information
'apterous' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apteros', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'pteron' meant 'wing'.
Historical Evolution
'apterous' passed into New Latin as 'apterus' and was adopted into modern English in the 19th century as 'apterous'.
Meaning Changes
Initially it meant 'without wings' in a literal anatomical sense, and it has retained that core meaning in modern usage (especially in biology).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having no wings; wingless (used especially of insects or other arthropods).
Many species of beetles on the island are apterous due to long isolation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/28 23:48