reptilious

English

Etymology

From reptile +‎ -ious, replacing earlier adjectival reptile and reptitious.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɹɛpˈtɪlɪəs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɹɛpˈtɪljəs/, /ɹɛpˈtɪliəs/
  • Rhymes: -ɪlɪəs, -ɪljəs, -ɪliəs

Adjective

reptilious (comparative more reptilious, superlative most reptilious)

  1. (dated) Synonym of reptile: creeping, crawling.
    • 1771, William Pardon & al., A New General English Dictionary, 14th ed., s.v. "Reptilious":
      Reptilious, creeping, crawling, swarming upon the belly, etc.
  2. (dated) Synonym of reptilian: reptilelike, of or related to members of the class Reptilia.
    • 1858 December 8, Birmingham Daily Post, page 4:
      The lecturer... pointed out the peculiar difference in the process of breathing which distinguished the reptilious from the acquatic species.

References
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