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reptilian

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Etymology

From reptile + -ian, replacing earlier reptilious and adjectival reptile.

Pronunciation

Adjective

reptilian (comparative more reptilian, superlative most reptilian)

  1. (zoology) Of or relating to the members of the class Reptilia (reptiles).
    • 2012, Chinle Miller, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Kindle edition:
      The Mesozoic represents that time on Earth when life flourished, but when such life was primarily reptilian, before the Age of Mammals.
  2. Reptilelike.
    • 1982 February 6, Marsha Maurer, “Works in Progress”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 28, page 6:
      It is filled with blazing fires and half-human, half-animal beasts, with spiked reptilian tails.
  3. (figuratively) Unthinking, low, base, contemptible.
  4. (figuratively) Cold-blooded, treacherous, unavoidably selfish and hostile.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

reptilian (plural reptilians)

  1. A reptilian animal: a reptile.
  2. (figuratively) A reptilian person, especially (ethnic slur) a Jew.
  3. (science fiction) A reptilian alien, especially (ufology, often capitalized) of a shapeshifting race alleged to secretly control the world.
    • 2001, Caroline Tiger, The UFO Hunter’s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Paranormal, →ISBN, pages 62–63:
      More evolved than the Grays or Reptilians, the Humanoids seem to feel some sort of kinship with humans and are likely to be kind.[] Some researchers believe the Grays are merely preparing the way for a full-scale invasion of Reptilian aliens.
    • 2010, Chico Penteado, Talking to the Reptilians-A Report from Brazil, →ISBN, page 11:
      Such powerful human families would descend upon the reptilians themselves and they would be willing to do just anything to retain their power.
    • 2011, Collin Robert Bowling, A New Order of the Ages, →ISBN:
      The reptilians are the creation of the Carians.
    • 2015, Marty Crump, Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg, →ISBN:
      Reptilians generally are envisioned as half snake, half human, and they are thought to have come from the Alpha Draconian star system.

See also

References

Anagrams

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Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French reptilien.

Adjective

reptilian m or n (feminine singular reptiliană, masculine plural reptilieni, feminine and neuter plural reptiliene)

  1. reptilian

Declension

More information singular, plural ...
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