Ophidian
/əˈfɪdiən/noun
Relating to or resembling snakes; also a snake, especially one belonging to the suborder Ophidia.
Did you know?The Greek root óphis appears in names connected with serpent symbolism, including Ophiuchus—the constellation traditionally depicting a man holding a snake.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁ogʷʰis
“Snake or serpent; the reconstructed ancestral form behind several Indo-European snake words.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄφις (óphis)
“Snake or serpent.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὀφίδιον (ophídion)
“A small snake or snake-like creature; a diminutive formation from óphis.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Ophidia / ophidianus
“Taxonomic and descriptive forms referring to snakes.”
19th Century
English
ophidian
“Relating to snakes, or a snake itself.”