Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

superfetate

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: su-per-fe-tate
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To conceive after a prior conception, but before the birth of the offspring.

Example Sentences

"The hare, for instance, which is hunted alike by beasts, birds, and men, breeds so abundantly as even to superfetate, a thing which is true of no other animal. You find in a hare's belly, at one and the same time, some of the young all covered with fur, others quite naked, others again just fully formed in the womb, while the hare perhaps has lately conceived afresh."
"Rabbits breed in every month of the year, and superfetate, as do hares; after giving birth they pair again at once."

Etymology

From Latin superfetare, from super (“above, over”) + fetare (“to bring forth”).

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: superfetare

Inflected Forms

superfetates (present, singular) superfetating (participle, present) superfetated (participle, past) superfetated (past)

Derived Forms

superfetation

Questions

What does superfetate mean?: To conceive after a prior conception, but before the birth of the offspring.
Where does superfetate come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce superfetate

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