Equine

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɛkˌwaɪn/

Definitions

1. Relating to or characteristic of horses, including their anatomy, behavior, or diseases
2. Of or related to the horse family, highlighting elements such as their physical characteristics, behaviors, and health conditions
3. Pertaining to members of the horse family, this term describes both the physical attributes and the behavioral traits associated with these animals as well as their health issues

Etymology: Latin "equus" meant "horse," and its derivative "equīnus" meant "of or pertaining to horses." English took the adjective over directly as a learned borrowing, so "equine" is a scholarly import rather than a word that came through everyday speech or the Norman French of medieval England. Its pronunciation, with the stress on the first syllable and the final sound of "-ine," reflects the Latin ending being adapted into English patterns. The word has stayed a formal, somewhat technical term. Where an everyday English speaker would say "horsey" or "horse-like," "equine" carries the tone of a veterinary text, a museum label, or a scientific description. The same Latin root also lies behind "equestrian," which comes through a separate Latin adjective, "equester," and it is a useful reminder that the Romans had several ways to talk about horses.

Synonyms: horse-like, stallion, mare, foal, pony

Antonyms: non-equine, unhorse-like, inanimate, non-living, non-animal