premedian
|pre-med-i-an|
/priːˈmiːdiən/
before the middle
Etymology
'premedian' originates from Latin elements: the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') meaning 'before', combined with 'median' (from Latin 'medianus') meaning 'middle'.
'median' comes from Latin 'medianus' via Medieval and Middle English developments to Modern English 'median'; the productive English prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') was attached in scientific/technical usage to form 'premedian' in Modern English.
Initially it literally meant 'before the middle' and the technical sense ('situated anterior to the median') has been retained in modern scientific usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
located before the middle; situated anterior to the median plane or median line (used especially in anatomy, zoology, and descriptions of insect wing patterns).
The moth has a distinct premedian band on its forewing.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/03 19:08