apterygotous
|ap-ter-y-go-tous|
C2
/ˌæptəˈrɪɡətəs/
without wings
Etymology
Etymology Information
'apterygotous' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apterygotos', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'pteryx'/'pteryg-' meant 'wing'.
Historical Evolution
'apterygotous' changed from Greek 'apterygotos' into Neo‑Latin/New Latin forms (e.g. 'Apterygota') used in zoological classification, and eventually entered English as 'apterygotous'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'without wings', and over time it has retained that core meaning in scientific usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
without wings; wingless (used especially in zoological contexts).
The apterygotous insect lacked wings and was unable to fly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/28 22:24