arachnivorous
|a-rach-ni-vor-ous|
🇺🇸
/əˌræknɪˈvɔrəs/
🇬🇧
/əˌræknɪˈvɔːrəs/
feeds on spiders
Etymology
'arachnivorous' originates from a combination of Greek and Latin combining forms: Greek 'aráchnē' (Ἀράχνη) meaning 'spider' (via Neo-Latin 'arachni-') and Latin-derived suffix '-vorous' from 'vorare' meaning 'to devour'.
'arachnivorous' developed in modern English by combining the Greek-derived element 'arachni-' with the Latin-based English suffix '-vorous' (a pattern used in coinages like 'insectivorous' and 'carnivorous'), forming a descriptive term for spider-eating organisms.
Initially created to mean 'feeding on spiders,' this has remained the core meaning in technical and descriptive use.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
noun form of 'arachnivorous': an animal that eats spiders.
Several small lizards in the region are arachnivores that specialize in hunting spiders.
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Noun 2
noun form of 'arachnivorous' indicating the dietary habit or condition of eating spiders (the state of being spider-eating).
Researchers noted arachnivory in several species previously thought to be generalist predators.
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Adjective 1
feeding on spiders; preying on spiders (order Araneae).
The small jumping spider is arachnivorous, often hunting juveniles of other spider species.
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Last updated: 2026/01/01 12:29