adder

[ ad-er ]

/ ˈæd ər /

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Definition of adder

noun

the common European viper, Vipera berus.

any of various other venomous or harmless snakes resembling the viper.

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Origin of adder

before 950; late Middle English; replacing Middle English nadder (a nadder becoming an adder by misdivision; cf. 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

Words nearby adder

added sixth, added title page, addend, addenda, addendum, adder, Adderall, Adderley, adder's-meat, adder's-mouth, adder's-tongue

Other definitions for adder (2 of 2)

adder²

[ ad-er ]

/ ˈæd ər /

noun

a person or thing that adds.

Origin of adder

First recorded in 1570–80; add + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use adder in a sentence

Many wonderful U.K. shows belong on this list ( Black Adder, I, Claudius, and Prime Suspect, to name but a few).
The Best TV Shows for Smart People|Vince Gilligan|August 18, 2010|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.'
The Merrie Tales Of Jacques Tournebroche|Anatole France
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.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Then he would suddenly turn back to Digby, but would find him poring over a book, and as dumb as an adder.
Digby Heathcote|W.H.G. Kingston

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.
Laboulaye's Fairy Book|Various
Adder drove me down, and stopped his coach at the inn, and rowed me the half-mile up.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith

British Dictionary definitions for adder (1 of 2)

adder¹

/ (ˈædə) /

noun

Also called: viper 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

any of various similar venomous or nonvenomous snakes

Word Origin for adder

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

British Dictionary definitions for adder (2 of 2)

adder²

/ (ˈædə) /

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adder

Definition of adder

Origin of adder

Words nearby adder

Other definitions for adder (2 of 2)

Origin of adder

Words related to adder

How to use adder in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for adder (1 of 2)

Word Origin for adder

British Dictionary definitions for adder (2 of 2)