Araignee

/ˌærɛɪˈneɪ/ noun

Definition

An obsolete or archaic English word meaning 'spider,' borrowed from French.

Etymology

From Old French 'araignee' (spider), ultimately derived from Latin 'aranea' (spider), related to Greek 'arachne.' This word appears in Middle English texts but is now completely obsolete.

Kelly Says

Araignee shows us how scientific terminology can change—we now use 'arachnid' and 'spider' instead, but if you read really old English literature (pre-1600s), you might encounter this lovely French-derived word for spider!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.