dryopithecine

noun

dryo·​pith·​e·​cine ˌdrī-ō-ˈpi-thə-ˌsīn How to pronounce dryopithecine (audio)
: any of a subfamily (Dryopithecinae) of Miocene and Pliocene Old World anthropoid apes sometimes regarded as ancestors of both humans and modern anthropoids
dryopithecine adjective

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek drys tree + pithēkos ape

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dryopithecine was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near dryopithecine

Dryopithecinae

dryopithecine

Dryopithecus

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Dryopithecine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dryopithecine. Accessed 10 Dec. 2022.

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