humpbacked - Meaning, Image, Examples & Etymology - Learn English Visually

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humpbacked

|hump-back-ed|

/ˈhʌmpˌbækt/

having a hump on the back

Etymology

Etymology Information

'humpbacked' originates from English as a compound of 'hump' + 'back' + the adjectival suffix '-ed'.

Historical Evolution

'humpbacked' developed from Middle English compounds like 'humpback' (formed from 'hump' + 'back'); the adjectival '-ed' was added in Modern English to form 'humpbacked'.

Meaning Changes

Initially it described the physical condition 'having a hump on the back,' and it has largely retained that literal meaning while also being used descriptively for arched shapes.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

having a hump or a rounded protrusion on the back; hunched in the back (literal, physical).

The humpbacked camel carried heavy packs across the desert.

Synonyms

humped hunchbacked gibbous

Antonyms

straight-backedupright

Adjective 2

having a rounded or arched shape resembling a hump (applied to objects, e.g., a humpbacked bridge).

They crossed a narrow humpbacked bridge over the stream.

Synonyms