Venomousness

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Venomous \Ven"om*ous\, a. [OE. venemous, venimous, F. venimeux,
     L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. See {Venom}, and cf.
     {Venenose}.]
     1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous; as, the
        bite of a serpent may be venomous.
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     2. (Zool.) Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion
        of venom, as certain serpents and insects.
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     3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a venomous
        progeny; a venomous writer.
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     {Venomous snake} (Zool.), any serpent which has poison glands
        and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents
        constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or
        Solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or
        Proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs
        situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are
        without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have
        permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary
        maxillary teeth behind them.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Ven"om*ous*ly}, adv. --
        {Ven"om*ous*ness}, n.
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