metatherian

[met-uh-theer-ee-uh n]

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the group Metatheria, comprising the marsupial mammals.

noun

a metatherian animal.

Origin of metatherian

1875–80; < New Latin Metatheri(a) name of the group (< Greek meta- meta- + thēría, plural of thēríon animal) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for metatherian

metatherian

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Metatheria, a subclass of mammals comprising the marsupials

noun

any metatherian mammal; a marsupial

Compare eutherian, prototherian

Word Origin for metatherian

C19: from New Latin, from meta- + Greek thērion animal

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