Phocine

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈfəʊsʌɪn/

Definitions

1. Pertaining to the characteristics and habits of true seals, particularly those of the Phocidae family that are commonly found in marine settings
2. Relating to the distinctive traits and behaviors exhibited by true seals, especially the species belonging to Phocidae that thrive in water
3. Referring to qualities and behaviors associated with true seals, especially those in the Phocidae family inhabiting marine environments

Etymology: "Phocine" is a plain formation: it takes the Latin "phōca", meaning seal, and adds the adjective-forming suffix "-ine", which means "of or relating to" or "resembling". The Latin noun itself was borrowed from the Greek "phṓkē", so the seal-word has travelled from Greek into Latin and then into English as a scientific adjective. The result describes the seal family, Phocidae, and the features shared with true seals as opposed to eared seals and sea lions. Zoologists use it in precise descriptions of anatomy and behaviour, so the word's job is classification rather than everyday talk. Its meaning is exactly what its parts suggest: something that is like a seal in the particular way a true seal is.