argentine

¹ American  

[ahr-juhn-tin, -tahyn] / ˈɑr dʒən tɪn, -ˌtaɪn /

adjective

1. pertaining to or resembling silver.

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noun

1. a silvery substance, especially one obtained from fish scales, used in making imitation pearls.

argentine ² American  

[ahr-juhn-tin, -tahyn] / ˈɑr dʒən tɪn, -ˌtaɪn /

noun

1. any of various silvery marine fishes, especially those of the genus Argentina.

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Argentine ³ American  

[ahr-juhn-teen, -tahyn] / ˈɑr dʒənˌtin, -ˌtaɪn /

Also Argentinean

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Argentina.

2. Usually the Argentine Argentina.

   They vacationed in the Argentine.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Argentina.

Argentine ¹ British  

/ -ˌtaɪn, ˈɑːdʒənˌtiːn /

noun

1. another name for Argentina

2. a native or inhabitant of Argentina

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adjective

1. of or relating to Argentina

argentine ² British  

/ ˈɑːdʒənˌtaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling silver

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noun

1. any of various small marine salmonoid fishes, such as Argentina sphyraena, that constitute the family Argentinidae and are characterized by a long silvery body

Other Word Forms

• pseudo-Argentinean adjective

Etymology

Origin of argentine¹

1400–50; late Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin argentīnus silvery. See argent, -ine ¹

Origin of argentine²

1530–40; < New Latin Argentina genus name, Latin, feminine of argentīnus silvery. See argentine ¹

Origin of Argentine³

First recorded in 1825–30, and in 1890–95 Argentine for def. 2; see origin at Argentina ( def. )

Example Sentences

Celestial Dian, goddess argentine, I will obey thee.

From Pericles by Shakespeare, William

Who hammered you, wrought you, From argentine vapour?—

From New Poems by Thompson, Francis

And this notwithstanding the greyness of his beard, which indeed is, in my own mind, very becoming to him, the argentine touch giving a character of elevation and thought to the whole physiognomy.

From The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume II by Kenyon, Frederic G. (Frederic George), Sir

Such footing were too fine For feet less argentine Than Dian's own or thine, Queen whom my tides obey.

From The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell by Lowell, James Russell

But before we forget the fair moon in the society of its famous man, let us soothe our spirits in sweet oblivion of discussions and dissertations, while we survey its argentine glories with poetic rapture.

From Moon Lore by Harley, Timothy