vespine

[ ves-pahyn, -pin ]

adjective

1. of or relating to wasps.
2. resembling a wasp.

vespine

/ ˈvɛspaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a wasp or wasps

Word History and Origins

Origin of vespine¹

First recorded in 1835–45; from Latin vesp(a) “wasp” + -ine adjective suffix; wasp + -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vespine¹

C19: from Latin vespa a wasp

Example Sentences

He is no space marine fighting off a horde of vespine aliens, but, rather, a humble, pudge-faced engineer making his way through a massive spaceship for initial reasons no grander than repair.

From Slate

When the winter comes all the larvae are massacred, and the whole vespine city ends in a horrible tragedy.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us return to Fabre's laboratory, to the covers of wire-gauze, and note what becomes, at the approach of winter, of the survivors of the vespine city.

From Project Gutenberg

The bumblebee fly, that sanitary inspector of the Vespine city, fulfils a double office: she wipes the wasp's children and she rids the nest of its dead.

From Project Gutenberg