vespertilionine

[ ves-per-til-ee-uh-nahyn, -nin ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the bats of the subfamily Vespertilioninae, common in temperate regions and including most familiar species.

vespertilionine

/ ˌvɛspəˈtɪlɪəˌnaɪn; ˌvɛspəˈtɪlɪənɪd; -nɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Vespertilionidae, a family of common and widespread bats

Derived Forms

• vespertilionid, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• ves·per·til·i·o·nid [ves-per-, til, -ee-, uh, -nid], noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vespertilionine¹

1870–75; < New Latin Vespertilionae, equivalent to Vespertilion-, stem of Vespertilio a genus ( Latin vespertiliō bat, derivative of vesper evening; vesper ) + -inae -inae

Word History and Origins

Origin of vespertilionine¹

C17: from Latin vespertīliō a bat, from vesper evening