dryopithecine

noun

dryo·​pith·​e·​cine ˌdrī-ō-ˈpi-thə-ˌsīn How to pronounce dryopithecine (audio)
: any of a subfamily (Dryopithecinae) of Miocene and Pliocene Old World anthropoid apes sometimes regarded as ancestors of both humans and modern anthropoids
dryopithecine adjective

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek drys tree + pithēkos ape

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dryopithecine was in 1939

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Cite this Entry

“Dryopithecine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dryopithecine. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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