viper

Pronunciation: /ˈvaɪpɚ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw

Etymology

From Middle French vipere, from Old French vipre, from Latin vīpera, contracted from vīvipara f (“viviparous”, adj.), from vīvus (“alive”, adj.) + parere (“to bear”, verb). Doublet of weever and wyvern.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
snake
Narrower (hyponyms)
pit viper, puff adder, gaboon viper, asp, adder, horned viper

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