pavonine

[ pav-uh-nahyn, -nin ]

adjective

1. of or like a peacock.
2. resembling the feathers of a peacock, as in coloring.

pavonine

/ ˈpævəˌnaɪn /

adjective

1. of or resembling a peacock or the colours, design, or iridescence of a peacock's tail

Word History and Origins

Origin of pavonine¹

1650–60; < Latin pāvōnīnus, derivative of pāvō (stem pāvōn- ) peacock; -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pavonine¹

C17: from Latin pāvōnīnus, from pāvō peacock

Example Sentences

The snapshots are affectionate and admiring, and the contradictions in them can give you whiplash — until the end Avedon was pavonine and recessive, autocratic and inhibited, everyone’s best friend and utterly inscrutable.

From New York Times

Zora von Pavonine is a dedicated artist who devotes time and money to perfecting her costumes and craft.

From Los Angeles Times

If that turns you off, it's easy to dismiss Revolution as little more than a narcissism trip – a pavonine linguistic display with a deficit of real substance.

From The Guardian

Pavonine, pav′o-nīn, adj. pertaining to the peacock: resembling the tail of a peacock or made of its feathers: iridescent—also Pavō′nian.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

In terms of style, professional men have their own corset to wrestle with, one with mere millimeters of wiggle room for lapel size, collar length, tie width and cuff length, and a palette drab enough to make a sparrow feel pavonine by comparison.

From New York Times