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Hyena
//haɪˈiːnə// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of the medium-sized to large feliform carnivores of the family Hyaenidae, native to Africa and Asia and noted for the sound similar to laughter which they can make if excited.
"The udder of the hyena, tied on the left arm, enticed the affection of any desired woman."
- 2 doglike nocturnal mammal of Africa and southern Asia that feeds chiefly on carrion wordnet
- 3 A man that performs ritualized sex acts with recently widowed women and menarchal girls.
"see Citations:hyena"
Etymology
From Middle English hiena, variant of hyene, from Old French hiene, from Medieval Latin hyēna, from Latin hyaena, from Ancient Greek ὕαινα (húaina). Displaced native Old English nihtgenġe (literally “night walker”).
See also for "hyena"
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Unscramble this word: hyena