venomous

C2 Topic:Animals

US /ˈvɛnəməs/ UK /ˈvɛnəməs/ See IPA manual

Freq #24269

Meanings

1

adj
Of an animal: producing venom and able to inject it by biting or stinging.

Some of the most venomous snakes in the world live in this region.
2

adj
Full of intense hostility or spite.

She shot him a venomous look across the room.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · of an animal: producing... deadlyvenenous

2 adj · full of intense hostility... poisonous spiteful rancorous virulent

Word family

Derived forms non-venomousnonvenomousunvenomousvenomous-tonguedvenomouslyvenomousness

Related forms envenomenvenomationenvenomedvenom

Etymology

From Middle English venymous, from Old French venimos, composed of venim (“venom”) + -os (adjective-forming suffix). Synchronically analysable as venom + -ous. Compare Modern French venimeux. Piecewise doublet of venenous.

*wenh₁- Proto-Indo-European venymous Middle English venimos Old French

View etymology graph ->

External links

# venomous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈvɛnəməs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvɛnəməs/
**Frequency rank:** 24269

## Meanings
1. Of an animal: producing venom and able to inject it by biting or stinging.
2. Full of intense hostility or spite.

## Examples
- Some of the most venomous snakes in the world live in this region.
- She shot him a venomous look across the room.

## Derived Forms
- non-venomous
- nonvenomous
- unvenomous
- venomous-tongued
- venomously
- venomousness

## Related Forms
- envenom
- envenomation
- envenomed
- venom

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *wenh₁-
- Root: venymous
- Root: venimos

## Etymology
From Middle English venymous, from Old French venimos, composed of venim (“venom”) + -os (adjective-forming suffix). Synchronically analysable as venom + -ous. Compare Modern French venimeux. Piecewise doublet of venenous.

## AI Etymology
Venomous is from Middle English venymous, from Old French venimos, composed of venim (“venom”) + -os (adjective-forming suffix). Synchronically analysable as venom + -ous. Compare Modern French venimeux. Piecewise doublet of venenous. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include *wenh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), venymous (Middle English), and venimos (Old French). Current senses include of an animal: producing venom and able to inject it by biting or stinging and full of intense hostility or spite. The wider family includes derived forms such as non-venomous, nonvenomous, unvenomous, venomous-tongued, and venomously; related words such as envenom, envenomation, envenomed, and venom.

## Topics
- Animals
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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venomous

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