ursine

English

WOTD – 22 December 2007

Etymology

Mid 16th century, from Latin ursinus, adjectival form of ursus ‎(“bear”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɜː.saɪn/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɝːsaɪn/, /ˈɝːsɪn/

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Adjective

ursine ‎(comparative more ursine, superlative most ursine)

1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of bears.
   • 1832, Godfrey Mundy, Pen and Pencil Sketches, Being the Journal of a Tour in India, London: John Murray, Vol. 1, Chapter VI, p. 320, [1]

     The British chief having undergone the ursine embrace of the Seikh monarch, the whole cavalcade proceeded towards the town.

   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 8, [2]

     […] the old man's eccentricities, sometimes bordering on the ursine, repelled the juniors […]

   • 2004, in Donald G. Lindburg and Karen Baragona (eds.), Giant Pandas: Biology and Conservation, Berkeley: University of California Press, Part Two, Introduction, p. 77, [3]

     […] we noted that a preponderance of the evidence supports an ursine origin for the giant panda.

2. (entomology, of caterpillars) Covered in stiff bristles.

Derived terms

Derived terms

ursine baboon ursine dasyure

ursine howler ursine seal

Synonyms

• bearly

Translations

of or relating to bears

• Ido: ursala
• Polish: niedźwiedzi (pl) m

• Russian: медве́жий (ru) ‎(medvéžij)
• Spanish: osuno

Anagrams

• insure, inures, nursie

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Latin

Adjective

ursīne

1. vocative masculine singular of ursīnus