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Webster 1913 Edition

Hippopotamus

Hipˊpo-pot′a-mus

,
Noun.
;
pl. E.
Hippopotamuses
(#)
, L.
Hippopotami
(#)
.
[L., from Gr.[GREEK];
ἵπποσ
horse + [GREEK] river. Cf.
Equine
.]
(Zool.)
A large, amphibious, herbivorous mammal (
Hippopotamus amphibius
), common in the rivers of tropical Africa. It is allied to the hogs, and has a very thick, naked skin, a thick and square head, a very large muzzle, small eyes and ears, thick and heavy body, and short legs. It is supposed to be the behemoth of the Bible. Called also
zeekoe
, and
river horse
. A smaller species (
Hippopotamus Liberiencis
) inhabits Western Africa.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hippopotamus

HIPPOPOT'AMUS

,
Noun.
[Gr. a horse, and a river.] The river-horse, an animal that inhabits the Nile and other rivers in Africa. This animal resembles a hog rather than a horse, and was named perhaps from his neighing voice. He has been found of the length of 17 feet. He delights in the water, but feeds on herbage on land.

Definition 2024

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

See also: hippopotamus

Translingual

Wikispecies

Hippopotamus amphibius

Proper noun

Hippopotamus m

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Hippopotamidae.
    The hippopotamus belongs to Hippopotamus.

Hyponyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

hippopotamus

hippopotamus

See also: Hippopotamus

English

A hippopotamus

Noun

hippopotamus ‎(plural hippopotamuses or hippopotami or hippopotamus)

  1. A large, semi-aquatic, herbivorous (plant-eating) African mammal (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Synonyms

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος ‎(hippopótamos), from ἵππος ‎(híppos, “horse”) + ποταμός ‎(potamós, “river”).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /hip.poˈpo.ta.mus/, [hɪp.pɔˈpɔ.ta.mʊs]

Noun

hippopotamus m ‎(genitive hippopotamī); second declension

  1. a hippopotamus

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative hippopotamus hippopotamī
genitive hippopotamī hippopotamōrum
dative hippopotamō hippopotamīs
accusative hippopotamum hippopotamōs
ablative hippopotamō hippopotamīs
vocative hippopotame hippopotamī

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Latin and New Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος ‎(hippopótamos), from ἵππος ‎(híppos, “horse”) + ποταμός ‎(potamós, “river”).

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