heterodont
/ˈhɛtəɹəˌdɑnt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 0.00 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of bivalves or their hinge teeth: having two to three wedge-shaped cardinal teeth set in the centre near the umbones, generally also with elongated lateral teeth on the anterior and posterior margins.
noun
A heterodont animal.
noun
A heterodont animal.
noun
A snake of the genus Heterodon which is native to North America.
Example Sentences
- ""On the Homologies and Notation of the Teeth of Mammalia," by W[illiam] H[enry] Flower, F.R.S. […] The classification and special homologies of the teeth of the heterodont mammals was next discussed."
- "The adaptation of the form of the teeth on both sides to this position, and the accurate adjustment of their contiguous surfaces, shows that it is a natural conformation. They are, moreover, of very nearly even height throughout the series, and in their configuration present a remarkable and gradual transition from the first incisor to the last molar, easily traced in both jaws, and more even and regular than in any other known heterodont mammal."
- "The few common characters by which the Edentata are associated are too well known to need repetition. The principal one is the abseance of any trace of the typical heterodont and diphyodont dentition, found in a more or less modified form in all other placental mammals."
- "[I]n many heterodont forms the teeth at the anterior end of the series of premolars and molars are small teeth, standing to the teeth behind them as the first terms of a series more or less regularly progressing in size."
- "The process of evolution of the specialised heterodont dentition of the Mammalia, or of the Theriodontia, from the simple homodont and polyphyodont dentition of the lower Reptilia would, I think, necessarily cause a reduction in number of the successional sets of teeth, due to an enlargement of one set and a consequent abstraction of growth, energy and material from the underlying sets."
- "Finally the structure of the palate in ?Acrodus (and to a lesser extent, Hybodus and Asteracanthus) shows certain general resemblances to that of modern heterodont sharks, particularly in the lower postorbital ramus, absence of an orbital process, well-developed ethmoidal articulations and absence of a basal angle."
Etymology
From hetero- (prefix meaning ‘different’) + -odont (suffix meaning ‘tooth; toothed’). Hetero- is derived from Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros, “one or the other of two; different”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together; one”); while -odont is from Ancient Greek ὀδούς (odoús, “tooth; tusk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- (“to bite”) + *-ónts (suffix forming nouns denoting body parts). By surface analysis, hetero- + -odont.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈhɛtəɹəˌdɑnt/
- British English: /ˈhɛtəɹəʊdɒnt/
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Frequently Paired Words
heterodontid
Heterodontidae
Heterodontiformes
heterodontosaur
heterodontosaurid
Heterodontosaurus
Heterodontus
diphyodont