verminous

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English vermin

Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed-

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.?

Proto-Italic *-ōtsos or *-otsos

Latin -ōsus

Old French -usbor.

Middle English -ous

English -ous

English verminous

From vermin + -ous.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈvɜː.mɪ.nəs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈvɝ.mɪ.nəs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

verminous (comparative more verminous, superlative most verminous)

1. Infested with vermin.

   The old beggar kept a verminous mongrel dog for a pet.

   The dog was constantly scratching his many verminous sores and welts.

2. Actively unpleasant, contemptible, or otherwise reminiscent of vermin.
   • 1985, Lawrence Durrell, Quinx (Avignon Quintet), Faber & Faber, published 2004, page 1350:

     They had brought all their own equipment with them, trade by trade, tongue by tongue; they travelled in ancient lorries or in slower carts with their verminous armfuls of keen-eyed children.

Related terms

• vermin