venom
pronunciation
How to pronounce venom in British English:
UK [ˈvenəm]
How to pronounce venom in American English:
US [ˈvɛnəm]
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- Noun:
- toxin secreted by animals; secreted by certain snakes and poisonous insects (e.g., spiders and scorpions)
- feeling a need to see others suffer
Word Origin
- venom
- venom: [13] Venom comes via Old French venim from Vulgar Latin *venīmen, an alteration of Latin venēnum ‘drug, poison’. It has been speculated that this was derived ultimately from venus ‘love’ (source of English venerate, venereal, etc), in which case its ancestral sense would presumably have been ‘love-potion’.
- venom (n.)
- mid-13c., venim, venym, "poison secreted by some animals and transferred by biting," from Anglo-French and Old French venim, venin "poison; malice," from Vulgar Latin *venimen (source also of Italian veleno, Spanish veneno), from Latin venenum "poison," earlier (pre-classical) "drug, medical potion," also "charm, seduction," probably originally "love potion," from PIE *wenes-no-, from root *wen- (1) "to strive after, wish, desire" (see Venus). Variously deformed in post-Latin languages, apparently by dissimilation. Modern spelling in English from late 14c. The meaning "bitter, virulent feeling or language" is first recorded c. 1300.
Example
- 1. The french company theralpha is now developing a drug from the venom .
- 2. To protect itself , the beetle shoots a spray of hot , toxic venom .
- 3. He noted that , " al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula has been open in its venom toward the united states " .
- 4. But it has directed particular venom at britain .
- 5. These spiders produce a mixture of venom , glue and silk to spit at their prey .