alcyonarian

[ al-see-uh-nair-ee-uhn ]

noun

1. any anthozoan coelenterate of the subclass Alcyonaria, as corals and sea anemones, having the tentacles and other body parts in branches or segments of eight.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcyonarian¹

1875–80; < New Latin Alcyonari ( a ) (< Greek alkyón ( ion ) a type of coral named from its resemblance to the nest of the kingfisher ( alkyṓn ) + Latin -āria -ary ) + -an

Example Sentences

In the Alcyonarian forms belonging to this great group these tentacles are always eight in number, and fringed on both sides.

From Project Gutenberg

More interesting than the Annelids, however, are the Alcyonarian Actinozoa.

From Project Gutenberg

Every Alcyonarian colony is developed by budding from a single parent zooid.

From Project Gutenberg