counterilluminate

Questions

What does counterilluminate mean?

To use photophores on the underside of the body so as to hide a dark silhouette that would otherwise be seen from below by predators

Where does counterilluminate come from?

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- English illuminate English counterilluminate From counter- + illuminate.

How to pronounce counterilluminate

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “counterilluminate”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “counterilluminate”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “counterilluminate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.