axillary
|ax-il-lar-y|
/ækˈsɪl.ə.ri/
pertaining to an axil or underarm
Etymology
'axillary' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'axilla', where 'axilla' meant 'armpit' and the suffix '-ary' (from Latin '-arius') formed adjectives meaning 'pertaining to'.
'axilla' (Latin) → Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'axillaris' → Middle English forms (e.g. 'axillarie') → modern English 'axillary'.
Initially it meant 'pertaining to the armpit'; over time the sense extended to mean 'pertaining to an axil' in botanical contexts, while retaining the anatomical sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a structure located in an axil, especially an axillary bud (chiefly botanical).
An axillary may give rise to a new shoot under the right conditions.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to the axilla (the armpit) or situated near the armpit; anatomical.
The axillary lymph nodes were enlarged after the infection.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/05 19:18