Venomous Meaning
/ˈvɛnəməs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf an animal (specifically a snake) or parts of its body: producing venom (“a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use”) which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting venom.
adjOf or pertaining to venom.
Sentence Examples
A tongue is the most venomous thing of all.
This snake is not venomous.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiker was careful to avoid the ____ snake because its bite could kill him.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Several species of ____ spiders are found in the region, so hikers are advised to be very careful in the woods today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English venymous, from Old French venimos, composed of venim (“venom”) + -os (adjective-forming suffix). Synchronically analysable as venom + -ous. Compare Modern French venimeux. Piecewise doublet of venenous.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"For that beaſtes teeth, vvhich vvounded you tofore, / Are ſo exceeding venemous and keene, / Made all of ruſty yron, ranckling ſore, / That vvhen they bite, it booteth not to vveene / VVith ſalue, or antidote, or other mene / It euer to amend: […]"
— 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 9, page 425:
"Haſt thou the pretty vvorme of Nylus [an asp] there, / That killes and paines not? / […] / Come thou mortal vvretch, / VVith thy ſharpe teeth this knot intrinſicate, / Of life at once vntye: Poore venomous Foole, / Be angry, and diſpatch."
— c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 367:
"[T]he biting of a Pike is venemous and hard to be cured."
— 1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], chapter VII, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN, page 146:
"[M]any, if not moſt of our European venemous Animals carry their Cure, as vvell as Poiſon in their ovvn Bodies. The Oil, and I doubt not, the Body of Scorpions too, is a certain Remedy againſt its Stroke."
— 1713, W[illiam] Derham, “[A Survey of the Terraqueous Globe.] The Great Variety and Quantity of All Things upon, and in the Terraqueous Globe, Provided for the Uses of the World.”, in Physico-Theology: Or, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from His Works of Creation. […], London: […] W[illiam] Innys, […], →OCLC, book II (Of the Terraqueous Globe It Self, in General), footnote 4, pages 56–57:
"VVith reſpect to the Salamander, the vvhole tribe, from the Moron to the Gekko, are ſaid to be venomous to the laſt degree; yet, vvhen experiments have been tried, no arts, no provocations, could excite theſe animals to the rage of biting."
— 1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of the Salamander”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VII, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC, page 129:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiker was careful to avoid the ____ snake because its bite could kill him.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Several species of ____ spiders are found in the region, so hikers are advised to be very careful in the woods today.