archiannelida
|ar-chi-an-ne-li-da|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑrkiˈænəlɪdə/
🇬🇧
/ˌɑːkiˈænəlɪdə/
primitive/early annelid group
Etymology
'archiannelida' originates from Modern Latin (New Latin), specifically the word 'Archiannelida', where the prefix 'archi-' is from Greek 'arkhi-' meaning 'chief, principal, or original' (used here with the sense 'primitive/original') and 'Annelida' comes from Latin 'annellus' (diminutive of 'annulus') meaning 'little ring' or 'ringed'.
'archiannelida' developed as a New Latin taxonomic formation combining Greek and Latin elements ('archi-' + 'Annelida') and was adopted into English scientific usage to name the proposed group; over time the English term 'archiannelida' persisted mainly in historical or taxonomic literature as the classification was revised.
Initially it meant 'the original/primitive ringed animals' (i.e., a proposed basal group of annelids), but over time it came to be treated as an obsolete or polyphyletic grouping and is no longer widely used as a valid taxon.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a historically recognized taxonomic group (formerly treated as a class or order) of very small, simple annelid worms; considered primitive or basal annelids. The grouping is now largely obsolete or regarded as polyphyletic.
Archiannelida were once regarded as a distinct group of minute, simple annelids, but modern studies have shown the grouping to be obsolete.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/06 11:14