avenaceous
|av-e-na-ce-ous|
/ˌævəˈneɪʃəs/
oat-like
Etymology
'avenaceous' originates from New Latin 'avenaceus', ultimately from Latin 'avena', where 'avena' meant 'oats' and the suffix '-aceous' meant 'of the nature of' or 'pertaining to'.
'avenaceous' changed from Latin 'avena' into New Latin 'avenaceus' and later entered English as 'avenaceous', keeping the suffix '-aceous' used to form adjectives meaning 'of the nature of'.
Initially, it meant 'of or pertaining to oats' and 'resembling oats'; over time it has retained this specialized botanical meaning of 'oat-like' or 'related to Avena'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or resembling oats (plants of the genus Avena); oat-like or pertaining to oat plants or oat-like grasses.
The botanist noted the avenaceous habit of the grass, with spikelets that resembled those of cultivated oats.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/01 02:36