pierid

[ pahy-er-id, pahy-er- ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Pieridae, a family of butterflies comprising the whites, sulfurs, etc.

noun

1. Also called pi·er·i·dine [pahy-, er, -i-dahyn, -din]. any member of the butterfly family Pieridae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pierid¹

1880–85; < New Latin Pieridae, apparently by haplology from *Pierididae, equivalent to Pierid- , stem of Pieris a genus (< Greek Pīerís, singular of Pīerídes a name for the Muses; Pierides ) + -idae -id ²

Example Sentences

The family of Pierid, or whites, again afford us admirable examples of the development of spots.

From Project Gutenberg

This group differs somewhat in composition from the preceding in that it contains no Pierid and no Danaid.

From Project Gutenberg

Their natural situation will be among the Pierid, with whose general habit they accord.

From Project Gutenberg