anserine

or an·ser·ous

[ an-suh-rahyn, -rin ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the subfamily Anserinae, of the family Anatidae, comprising the true geese.
2. resembling a goose; gooselike.
3. stupid; foolish; silly.

anserine

/ ˈænsəˌraɪn; -rɪn; ˈænsərəs /

adjective

1. of or resembling a goose
2. of, relating to, or belonging to the subfamily Anserinae, which includes geese, swans, and certain ducks: family Anatidae, order Anseriformes
3. silly; foolish

Word History and Origins

Origin of anserine¹

1830–40; < Latin anserīnus of, pertaining to geese, equivalent to anser goose + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of anserine¹

C19: from Latin anserīnus, from anser goose

Example Sentences

The water temperature was turned up — way up, she said — because the models were afflicted with cutis anserine, better known as goose bumps.

From New York Times

I scorn the anserine Gladstonian throng, Whose mouthpiece is the Gaily Dews.

From Project Gutenberg

Maggi's Instruments for Gunshot Wounds:-- 6 a, b, c, separable bullet forceps; 7, bullet spatula; 8, 9, anserine bullet forceps, separable and with a screw-crushing arrangement.

From Project Gutenberg

Since then he had respected her person, but to the day of his death he had cursed her for anserine stupidity.

From Project Gutenberg

Words with a long i, if they came early through France, shorten the vowel, as 'doctrine', 'discipline', 'medicine', and 'masculine', while 'genuine', though a later word, followed them, but 'anserine' and 'leonine' did not.

From Project Gutenberg