Rhinoceri

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large, thick-skinned herbivore native to Africa and Southeast Asia, known for its distinctive horned snout and aggressive nature
2. A member of the family Rhinocerotidae, characterized by its massive build, tough skin, and herbivorous diet, often found in grasslands and savannas
3. An animal species commonly recognized for its size and horns, threatened by poaching and habitat loss, that plays a crucial role in its ecosystem

Etymology: "Rhinoceri" is a plural form, and it is a fine example of a plural that was never really Latin. The Greek-derived singular "rhinoceros" (from "rhinokeros," meaning "nose-horn") came into English with its own regular plural. The "-i" ending, however, was borrowed in imitation of Latin second-declension plurals such as "-i" in "alumni" or "fungi," which led writers to form "rhinoceri" by analogy with "hippopotami," a Greek-derived word that really does take a Latin-style plural. The Latin plural "rhinoceri" was not an extant form in Latin, so the ending is a piece of learned guesswork that spread in English usage.

Synonyms: rhinos