viviparous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   producing live young that developed inside the parent's body rather than laying eggs

   Most mammals are viviparous, although the platypus and echidnas lay eggs.

2. 2
   adj

   botany: producing young plants or shoots that begin developing while still attached to the parent

   The viviparous mangrove seedling starts growing before it drops into the water.

Simplified etymology

Viviparous, recorded from the mid-17th century, comes from Latin vivus ‘alive’ and parere ‘to bring forth’. It therefore means ‘producing live young’.

From Latin viviparus, 'bringing forth live young,' formed from vivus, 'alive,' + parere, 'to bring forth or give birth.' The botanical sense applies the same idea to propagules that develop before separating from the parent plant.

Topics

External links

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