nemertean

1 of 3

noun (1)

ne·​mer·​te·​an ni-ˈmər-tē-ən 

: any of a phylum (Nemertea synonym Rhynchocoela) of often vividly colored usually long dorsoventrally flattened marine worms that typically burrow in the mud or sand along seacoasts

called also ribbon worm

nemertine

ˈne-mər-ˌtīn 

adjective or noun

nemertine

2 of 3

adjective

nem·​er·​tine ˈnemə(r)ˌtin 

-tēn

variants or nemertinean

¦⸗⸗¦tinēən

: of or relating to the Nemertea

nemertine

3 of 3

noun (2)

"

variants or nemertinean

"

plural -s

: a worm of the group Nemertea

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

ultimately from Greek Nēmertēs Nemertes, one of the Nereids

Adjective

nemertinean from New Latin Nemertinea + English -an, adjective suffix; nemertine from New Latin Nemertinea, Nemertina, Nemertini

Noun (2)

nemertinean from New Latin Nemertinea + English -an, noun suffix; nemertine from New Latin Nemertinea, Nemertina, Nemertini

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1861, in the meaning defined above