Animalistic adjectives

Question 1

Graminivorous

Answer 1

[ɡra-mə-NIV-ər-əs] Adjective Origin: Latin

(Of an animal) feeding on grass.

“Most of the farm animals were graminivorous.”
“Meredith’s research studies the effects of a graminivorous diet.”

Question 2

Anguine

Answer 2

This animal adjective, describing serpents that slither across the ground, comes from the Latin word anguis, meaning “snake.” Snakes often call to mind devious behavior or curving paths which is why people or routes are sometimes called “serpentine” or “snake-like.”

Question 3

Bovine

Answer 3

This word is derived from the Latin word bovīnus, which means “relating to cattle,” and bōs, which translates to “ox.” “Beef” comes from the French boef, but that also traces back to the same Latin root.

Question 4

Equine

Answer 4

Yet another Latin word — this time equīnus is all about horses, but the genus Equus includes lots of four-legged mammals including horses, donkeys, and zebras. While “equine” is an upscale term for anything horse-related, the word “horsey” is also a great low-key substitute. Think, “After riding, his clothes had a horsey odor.”

Question 5

Lupine

Answer 5

This term is borrowed from the Latin words lupīnus and lupus, which translate to “wolf.” The autoimmune disorder known as lupus got its name because a 13th-century doctor thought his patient’s facial lesions looked like a wolf’s bite. People can also be called “wolfish” if they’re ferocious or insatiable.

Question 6

Murine

Answer 6

This term comes from the Latin stem mur, which derives from the word mus, meaning “mouse.” As a more recognizable mouse-like adjective, “mousy” can be applied to anyone quiet, timid, and just a little reserved.

Question 7

Piscine

Answer 7

Piscine
This adjective may look familiar from astrology. The Latin word piscis means “fish,” and is also the root for the Greco-Roman constellation Pisces. For those who don’t want to dabble in fancy Latin terms, anything with a sea-like taste or odor can be described as “fishy.”

Question 8

Sciurine

Answer 8

This word has roots in the Latin sciūrus and ancient Greek skíouros, which both mean “squirrel.” The Greek term literally translates to “shadow tail,” which is something fun to think about the next time you see a bushy tail scamper by. Looking at the way squirrels dash around, the adjective “squirrely,” meaning acting odd or eccentric, starts to make a lot of sense.

Question 9

Ursine

Answer 9

This beary nice adjective is derived from the Latin word ursus, meaning “bear.” The Latin term is also the root word for the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, which take the shape of two bears in the night sky. Though a bearish person is gruff and grumpy, a bearish investor in the stock market is usually afraid of falling prices.

Question 10

Vulpine

Answer 10

Foxes as well as cunning people are often described with this term. It comes from the Latin word vulpīnus, which means “foxy or fox-like.” Someone who’s foxy can be either very crafty or very attractive.