arachnoidean
|a-rach-noi-de-an|
/ˌærəknɔɪˈdiːən/
spider-like
Etymology
'arachnoidean' originates from New Latin/modern scientific formation, ultimately from Greek 'aráchnē' where 'aráchnē' meant 'spider', combined with the suffixes '-oid'/'-ean' meaning 'resembling' or 'pertaining to'.
'arachnoidean' developed via Late/Neo-Latin formations such as 'arachnoides'/'arachnoideus' (formation meaning 'spider-like') and was adopted into English scientific usage as 'arachnoidean'.
Initially formed to mean 'spider-like' or 'pertaining to spiders' in scientific Latin/Greek-derived terminology; it has largely retained that specialized meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a (rare or historical) term for a member of a group considered arachnoid or spider-like; in some usages, an organism of the Arachnoidea. (Usage is uncommon and mostly historical or technical.)
Among the preserved specimens, an arachnoidean was identified that matched descriptions from 19th-century accounts.
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Adjective 1
relating to or resembling spiders or the arachnid group; spider-like (used chiefly in scientific or descriptive contexts).
The fossil displayed several arachnoidean features, suggesting a close relationship to early spiders.
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Last updated: 2025/10/01 06:38