oviparous
|o-vi-par-ous|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈoʊvɪpərəs/
🇬🇧
/ˈɒvɪpərəs/
egg-laying
Etymology
Etymology Information
'oviparous' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'oviparus', where 'ovum' meant 'egg' and 'parere' meant 'to bring forth'.
Historical Evolution
'oviparous' was formed in New Latin by combining the Latin roots 'ovum' + 'parere' (to bring forth) and was adopted into English in the 18th–19th century as the technical biological adjective 'oviparous'.
Meaning Changes
Initially it meant 'egg-bearing' or 'egg-producing', and over time it has retained that core meaning in biological usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
producing young by means of eggs that are laid by the parent and hatch outside the parent's body.
Many birds and most reptiles are oviparous.
Synonyms
egg-layingoviparic
Antonyms
viviparousovoviviparous
Last updated: 2025/12/01 00:39