premorse

[ pri-mawrs ]

adjectiveBiology.

having the end irregularly truncate, as if bitten or broken off.

Origin of premorse

1745–55; <Latin praemorsus bitten off in front (past participle of praemordēre), equivalent to prae-pre- + morsus bitten; see morsel

Words Nearby premorse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use premorse in a sentence

premorse: as if bitten off: with a blunt or jagged termination.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology | John. B. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for premorse

premorse

/ (prɪˈmɔːs) /

adjective

biology appearing as though the end had been bitten off: a premorse leaf

Origin of premorse

C18: from Latin praemorsus bitten off in front, from praemordēre, from prae in front + mordēre to bite

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

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