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The Blogging From A to Z April Challenge: O is for Ophidian

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

My posts in the The Blogging From A to Z April Challenge are all about interesting words. Words that are weird, intriguing, poetic or just plain cool.



O is for Ophidian

Another word I thought I knew the meaning of but didn't. Something to do with the underworld? Ophidian actually means of or relating to snakes. The word derives from the ancient Greek word ophis, meaning, simply, a snake. In modern biological classification, snakes belong to the suborder Ophidia.

I guess I was getting mixed up with Orpheus as in Orpheus in the Underworld ...



Archaeopteryx Blunderbuss Chthonic Dreadnought Entropy Fulgurite Gargantua Humbucking Ichthyic Juggernaut Kappa Labyrinthine Megrim Numinous Ophidian

Posted by Simon Kewin at 08:00

16 comments:

  1. Anonymous17 April 2012 at 08:55

    I love snakes and had a californian king snake in my teens. I had to find it a better home as I was a bit nervous of getting it out of the cage. Merlin! that was his name. good O

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  2. Simon Kewin17 April 2012 at 09:32

    Lynne - Great name! I had a cat called that once myself.

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  3. Old Kitty17 April 2012 at 10:26

    I know many ophidian types! LOL! Take care
    x

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  4. Unknown17 April 2012 at 14:47

    Ophidian pushes through the lips in a wonderful way. I'm going to use this word in a sentence today. I'll say something like, "Slither on out of here with your ophidian ways."

    Lucy

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  5. Simon Kewin17 April 2012 at 15:04

    Lucy - I like that! Thanks for dropping in.

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  6. Sean McLachlan17 April 2012 at 16:26

    I'm learning a lot of words from you! Writing historical novels like I do I come across lots of strange and almost forgotten words. Fun stuff!

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  7. Simon Kewin17 April 2012 at 17:09

    Thanks, Sean. Glad the posts are of some interest!

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  8. Elise Fallson17 April 2012 at 17:35

    This is a new one for me. I can sometimes find similarities with the French equivalent, but not this time.

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  9. Simon Kewin17 April 2012 at 17:46

    Elise - I *think* there is a French word ophidien - but I'm no expert!

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  10. Madeline Mora-Summonte17 April 2012 at 19:42

    I was thinking of "obsidian" for some reason. I like your word better. :)

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  11. Elise Fallson17 April 2012 at 20:51

    Simon, you're right. Ophidien is a classification order in French for snakes. I'm just more familiar with the French word "serpents." Learning lots of stuff today! (=

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  12. Simon Kewin17 April 2012 at 21:04

    Madeline - I do like that word too. Nearly picked it, actually.

    Elise - Me too!

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  13. Anonymous18 April 2012 at 01:56

    Was there an Ophidian Order or an Obsidian Order on Deep Space Nine? Wish I was a better Trekkie...

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  14. Golden Eagle18 April 2012 at 02:08

    It's interesting how many of the scientific names mean the animal itself in Greek or Latin.


    The Golden Eagle
    The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

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  15. Nicole18 April 2012 at 03:33

    I sense a great villain name in there somewhere.

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  16. Simon Kewin18 April 2012 at 07:05

    Milo - Ah yes, the Obsidian Order. Fun guys.

    Golden Eagle - Indeed. A knowledge of Latin is ever useful.

    Nicole - Oh yes, you're right!

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I'd love to know what you think.