N-ine Words of the Day

The English language is awash in adjectives ending in "-ine." They have Latin origins and usually serve to express their subject's relation or likeness to something, quite often an animal. Canine or feline are the most popular ones, but there are many others. Here are nine lesser-known examples:

pavonine

adjective

of or like a peacock.

porcine

adjective

of, affecting, or resembling a pig or pigs : his flushed, porcine features.

hircine

adjective

of or resembling a goat.

anserine

adjective:
1. Of or relating to a goose.
2. Stupid; silly.

ovine

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling sheep.

ranine 

adjective

 Relating to or characteristic of frogs.

leporine

adjective

of or resembling a hare or hares.

elephantine

adjective

of, resembling, or characteristic of an elephant or elephants, esp. in being large, clumsy, or awkward : there was an elephantine thud from the bathroom.

murine

adjective Zoology

of, relating to, or affecting mice or related rodents.