leonine

[ lee-uh-nahyn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the lion:

   We breathlessly watched the pride, in its leonine majesty, as it moved across the veldt.

2. resembling or suggestive of a lion:

   the conductor's wild, leonine hair.

3. (usually initial capital letter) of or relating to Leo, especially Leo IV or Leo XIII.

Leonine

¹

/ ˈliːəˌnaɪn /

adjective

1. connected with one of the popes called Leo
2. Leonine City
   a district of Rome on the right bank of the Tiber fortified by Pope Leo IV
3. of or relating to certain prayers in the Mass prescribed by Pope Leo XIII

noun

1. Also calledLeonine verse
   1. a type of medieval hexameter or elegiac verse having internal rhyme
   2. a type of English verse with internal rhyme

leonine

²

/ ˈliːəˌnaɪn /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or resembling a lion

Word History and Origins

Origin of leonine¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English leonyn, from Latin leōnīnus “lionlike,” equivalent to leōn- (stem of leō) + -īnus; lion, -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of leonine¹

C14: from Latin leōnīnus, from leō lion

Example Sentences

What could be more leonine than a personal inferno?

From Los Angeles Times

A garment on the ground catches his eye; when he puts it on, a vest with leonine markings that matches the fabric around his waist, he seems imbued with a newfound power and responsibility.

From New York Times

He had a head of “leonine” white hair and an air of nobility.

From Literature

What looked on the picture to be a long, leonine dangling tail with a bob at the end could have been a shadow cast by vegetation.

From Reuters

Encountering again the fuzz and warmth of Mandela’s leonine tones, Stengel realized something: He had a podcast on his hands.

From New York Times

Related Words

• big-name
• distinguished
• esteemed
• famed
• high-ranking
• illustrious
• noted
• outstanding
• preeminent
• prominent
• renowned
• well-known