Adjacent Words

Adder definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AD'DER, n. [L. natrix, a serpent.]
A venomous serpent or viper, of several species.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a person who adds numbers
2: a machine that adds numbers
3: small terrestrial viper common in northern Eurasia [syn: adder, common viper, Vipera berus]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, alteration (by false division of a naddre) of naddre, from Old English n?dre; akin to Old High German n?tara adder, Latin natrix water snake Date: 14th century 1. the common venomous viper (Vipera berus) of Europe; broadly any of various snakes of the viper family — compare puff adder 2. any of several North American snakes (as the hognose snakes) that are harmless but are popularly believed to be venomous II. noun Date: 1580 one that adds; especially a device (as in a computer) that performs addition

Britannica Concise

Any of several venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) and the death adder, a viperlike elapid. Vipers include the common adder, puff adders, and night adders. Adders occur in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. They range in length from 18 in. to 5 ft (45 cm-1.5 m). The puff adder of Africa and the death adder of Australia and the nearby islands are particularly venomous, with a bite often lethal to humans. The name is also used for other snakes (e.g., the hognose snake).

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. any of various small venomous snakes, esp. the common viper, Vipera berus, the only poisonous snake in Great Britain. Phrases and idioms: adder's tongue any fern of the genus Ophioglossum. Etymology: OE nædre: n lost in ME by wrong division of a naddre: cf. APRON, AUGER, UMPIRE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Adder Add"er, n. [See Add.] One who, or that which, adds; esp., a machine for adding numbers.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Adder Ad"der, n. [OE. addere, naddere, eddre, AS. n[ae]dre, adder, snake; akin to OS. nadra, OHG. natra, natara, Ger. natter, Goth. nadrs, Icel. na[eth]r, masc., na[eth]ra, fem.: cf. W. neidr, Gorn. naddyr, Ir. nathair, L. natrix, water snake. An adder is for a nadder.] 1. A serpent. [Obs.] ``The eddre seide to the woman.'' --Wyclif. Gen. iii. 4. ) 2. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The common European adder is the Vipera (or Pelias) berus. The puff adders of Africa are species of Clotho. (b) In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder, etc. (c) Same as Sea Adder. Note: In the sculptures the appellation is given to several venomous serpents, -- sometimes to the horned viper (Cerastles).

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(adders) In Europe and Asia, an adder is a small poisonous snake that has a black pattern on its back. In North America, a number of different poisonous and non-poisonous snakes are called adders. = viper N-COUNT

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Ps. 140:3; Rom. 3:13, "asp") is the rendering of, (1.) Akshub ("coiling" or "lying in wait"), properly an asp or viper, found only in this passage. (2.) Pethen ("twisting"), a viper or venomous serpent identified with the cobra (Naja haje) (Ps. 58:4; 91:13); elsewhere "asp." (3.) Tziphoni ("hissing") (Prov. 23:32); elsewhere rendered "cockatrice," Isa. 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jer. 8:17, as it is here in the margin of the Authorized Version. The Revised Version has "basilisk." This may have been the yellow viper, the Daboia xanthina, the largest and most dangerous of the vipers of Palestine. (4.) Shephiphon ("creeping"), occurring only in Gen. 49:17, the small speckled venomous snake, the "horned snake," or cerastes. Dan is compared to this serpent, which springs from its hiding-place on the passer-by.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ad'-er (`akhshubh (Ps 140:3); pethen (Ps 58:4); tsiph`oni (Pr 23:32); shephiphon (Ge 49:17); tsepha` (King James Version margin; Isa 14:29)): This word is used for several Hebrew originals. In each case a poisonous serpent is clearly indicated by the context. It is impossible to tell in any case just what species is meant, but it must be remembered that the English word adder is used very ambiguously. It is from the Anglo-Saxon noedre, a snake or serpent, and is the common English name for Vipera berus, L, the common viper, which is found throughout Europe and northern Asia, though not in Bible lands; but the word "adder" is also used for various snakes, both poisonous and non-poisonous, found in different parts of the world. In America, for instance, both the poisonous moccasin (Ancistrodon) and the harmless hog-nosed snakes (Heterodon) are called adders.

See SERPENT.

Alfred Ely Day