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veterinary

[ vet-er-uh-ner-ee, ve-truh- ]
/ ˈvɛt ər əˌnɛr i, ˈvɛ trə- /
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noun, plural vet·er·i·nar·ies.
a veterinarian.
adjective
of or relating to the medical and surgical treatment of animals, especially domesticated animals.
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Origin of veterinary

1780–90; <Latin veterīnārius, equivalent to veterīn(ae) beasts of burden (noun use of feminine plural of veterīnus pertaining to such beasts, equivalent to veter-, stem of vetus old, i.e., grown, able to take a load + -īnus-ine1) + -ārius-ary

OTHER WORDS FROM veterinary

non·vet·er·i·nar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·vet·er·i·nar·ies.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use veterinary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for veterinary

veterinary
/ (ˈvɛtərɪnərɪ, ˈvɛtrɪnrɪ) /

adjective
of or relating to veterinary medicine

Word Origin for veterinary

C18: from Latin veterīnārius concerning draught animals, from veterīnae draught animals; related to vetus mature (hence able to bear a burden)
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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