herpestid
|her-pes-tid|
C2
🇺🇸
/hərˈpɛstɪd/
🇬🇧
/hɜːˈpɛstɪd/
mongoose family
Etymology
Etymology Information
'herpestid' originates from the New Latin 'Herpestidae', which is derived from the Greek word 'herpestes', meaning 'creeping thing'.
Historical Evolution
The term 'herpestid' was adopted into English from the scientific classification of the family Herpestidae.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred specifically to the family of small carnivorous mammals, and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of the family Herpestidae, which includes mongooses.
The herpestid is known for its agility and ability to hunt snakes.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/18 02:10