adder

¹

[ ad-er ]

noun

1. the common European viper, Vipera berus.
2. any of various other venomous or harmless snakes resembling the viper.

adder

²

[ ad-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that adds.

adder

¹

/ ˈædə /

noun

1. a person or thing that adds, esp a single element of an electronic computer, the function of which is to add a single digit of each of two inputs

adder

²

/ ˈædə /

noun

1. Also calledviper a common viper, Vipera berus, that is widely distributed in Europe, including Britain, and Asia and is typically dark greyish in colour with a black zigzag pattern along the back
2. any of various similar venomous or nonvenomous snakes

Word History and Origins

Origin of adder¹

before 950; late Middle English; replacing Middle English nadder ( a nadder becoming an adder by misdivision; apron ), Old English næddre; cognate with Old Saxon nādra, Old High German nātara ( German Natter ), Old Norse nathra snake, Gothic nadrs adder, Old Irish nathir snake, Latin natrix water snake

Origin of adder²

First recorded in 1570–80; add + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of adder¹

Old English nǣdre snake; in Middle English a naddre was mistaken for an addre ; related to Old Norse nathr, Gothic nadrs

Example Sentences

Many wonderful U.K. shows belong on this list ( Black Adder, I, Claudius, and Prime Suspect, to name but a few).

From The Daily Beast

He comes from the tribe of Dan, of which it is written: 'Dan shall be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path.'

From Project Gutenberg

Well, by and by an adder bit a knight's heel; the knight forgot all about the order, and made a slash at the adder with his sword.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he would suddenly turn back to Digby, but would find him poring over a book, and as dumb as an adder.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same moment I saw a beautiful green adder come from a cleft of the mountain and crawl along the sand toward the bird.

From Project Gutenberg

Adder drove me down, and stopped his coach at the inn, and rowed me the half-mile up.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cobra