dryopithecine
noun
dryo·pith·e·cine
ˌdrī-ō-ˈpi-thə-ˌsīn 
: 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
Dictionary Entries Near dryopithecine
Cite this Entry
“Dryopithecine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dryopithecine. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share