testudinate

American  

[te-stood-n-it, -eyt, -styood-] / tɛˈstud n ɪt, -ˌeɪt, -ˈstyud- /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the reptilian order Testudines, comprising turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.

   Of all the testudinate species that were once abundant here, the snapping turtle is the only one that has not disappeared or become endangered.

2. similar to, resembling, or representing turtles, tortoises, or terrapins.

   We refer to this pattern as “testudinate” because the figures within alternate stripes are clearly turtlelike.

3. Architecture. formed like the carapace of a tortoise; arched; vaulted.

   Her testudinate doorways and ceilings have the feel of something from antiquity, but they integrate well with her otherwise modern designs.

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noun

1. a turtle, tortoise, or terrapin.

Etymology

Origin of testudinate

First recorded in 1720–30; from Latin testūdinātus “arched, vaulted”; see testudo, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

No little testudinate triflers are these, Unmindful of doom unforbodingly playing.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 104, March 4, 1893 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir

The only flight of a testudinate which we remember is that downward one of the unfortunate tortoise that cracked the bald crown of Aeschylus.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 03, January, 1858 by Various

There are five different styles of cavaedium, termed according to their construction as follows: Tuscan, Corinthian, tetrastyle, displuviate, and testudinate.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio