curved-footed
|curved-foot-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˈkɝvdˌfʊtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɜːvdˌfʊtɪd/
having bent or arched feet
Etymology
'curved-footed' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of 'curved' and 'footed', where 'curved' ultimately comes from Latin 'curvus' meaning 'bent' and 'footed' derives from Old English 'fōt' meaning 'foot'.
'curved' developed through Middle English (e.g. 'curven', 'curved') from Old French/Middle Latin reflexes of Latin 'curvus'; 'footed' developed from Old English 'fōt' and Middle English 'fot' with the adjectival suffix '-ed' to mean 'having a foot', together forming the compound 'curved-footed' in Modern English.
Initially the root 'curvus' meant 'bent' in Latin; over time the components combined in English to mean specifically 'having bent or arched feet', a descriptive adjective used for anatomy or design.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having feet that are curved or bent in shape; usually used to describe animals (birds, raptors) or anatomical features with noticeably arched or hooked feet.
The curved-footed heron gripped the slippery fish with its hooked toes.
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Adjective 2
describing objects (e.g., furniture, sculptures, shoe designs) that have bases or supports shaped with a visible curve resembling a curved foot.
The antique table is curved-footed, giving it an elegant, baroque silhouette.
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Last updated: 2025/08/20 15:01