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prototherian

[proh-tuh-theer-ee-uh n]
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adjective
  1. belonging or pertaining to the group Prototheria, comprising the monotremes.
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noun
  1. a prototherian animal.
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Origin of prototherian

1880–85; < New Latin Prototheri(a) (< Greek prōto- proto- + thēría, plural of thēríon beast) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for prototherian

Historical Examples

  • And on this view may be explained the retention of Prototherian characters.

    The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., Mammalia

    Frank Evers Beddard

British Dictionary definitions for prototherian

prototherian

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Prototheria, a subclass of mammals that includes the monotremes
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noun
  1. any prototherian mammal; a monotreme
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Compare eutherian, metatherian

Word Origin

C19: New Latin, from proto- + Greek theria wild animals
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