reptilian
UK /ɹɛpˈtɪliən/ · US /ɹɛpˈtɪljən/ adjective, noun
Forms reptilians
- adjective (zoology) Of or relating to the members of the class Reptilia (reptiles).
- adjective Reptilelike.
- adjective (figuratively) Unthinking, low, base, contemptible.
- adjective (figuratively) Cold-blooded, treacherous, unavoidably selfish and hostile.
- noun A reptilian animal: a reptile.
- noun (figuratively) A reptilian person, especially (ethnic slur) a Jew.
- noun (science fiction) A reptilian alien, especially (ufology, often capitalized) of a shapeshifting race alleged to secretly control the world.
Synonyms
reptilious reptitious saurian reptilelike sauroid despicable loathsome abject filthy base beggarly blameworthy carrion cheap choical contemptible cringing damnable dedecorous degraded reptile
Etymology
From reptile + -ian, replacing earlier reptilious and adjectival reptile.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Belonging to the reptiles. Reptilian age (Geol.), that part of geological time comprising the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and distinguished as that era in which the class of reptiles attained its highest expansion; --called also the Secondary or Mezozoic age.
- noun One of the Reptilia; a reptile.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “reptilian”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details