Lexic.us

Definition of Adder

1. Noun. A person who adds numbers.

2. Noun. A machine that adds numbers.

3. Noun. Small terrestrial viper common in northern Eurasia.

Definition of Adder

1. n. One who, or that which, adds; esp., a machine for adding numbers.

2. n. A serpent.

Definition of Adder

1. Noun. (obsolete) A snake. ¹

2. Noun. A name loosely applied to various snakes more or less resembling the viper; a viper. ¹

3. Noun. (mainly British) 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 the genus ''Clotho''. ¹

4. Noun. (US Canada) Any of several small nonvenomous snakes resembling the adder, such as the milk snake. ¹

5. Noun. The sea-stickleback or adder-fish. ¹

6. Noun. Someone who or something which performs arithmetic addition. ¹

7. Noun. Something which adds or increases. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Adder

1. a venomous snake [n -S]

Medical Definition of Adder

1. 1. A serpent. "The eddre seide to the woman." 2. 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. In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder, etc. Same as Sea Adder. In the sculptures the appellation is given to several venomous serpents, sometimes to the horned viper (Cerastles). Origin: OE. Addere, naddere, eddre, AS. Naedre, adder, snake; akin to OS. Nadra, OHG. Natra, natara, Ger. Natter, Goth. Nadrs, Icel. Naor, masc, naora, fem., cf. W. Neidr, Gorn. Naddyr, Ir. Nathair, L. Natrix, water snake. An adder is for a nadder. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Adder

adde addebted added added up addedly addeem addeemed addeeming addeems addend

addenda addended addends addendum addendums adder (current term) adder's-tongue adder's-tongues adder's fern adder's tongue

adder's tongue fern adder's tongues adder flies adder fly adderlike adders adderwort adderworts addest addeth

Literary usage of Adder

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and of His Noble by Thomas Malory, William Caxton (1903)
"CHAPTER IV How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, ... Right soon came an adder out of a little heath bush, and it stung a knight on the foot. ..."

2. The Universal Anthology: A Collection of the Best Literature, Ancient by Richard Garnett, Leon i.e. Alexandre Le'on Valle'e, Léon Vallée, Alois Leonhard Brandl (1899)
"THE MAN AND THE adder. A Man mounted upon a Camel once rode into a thicket ... The fire environed the adder in such a manner that he knew not how to escape, ..."

3. The Life-history of British Serpents and Their Local Distribution in the by Gerald Rowley Leighton (1901)
"The adder uses its poison apparatus for one of two purposes: either to secure its ... Many animals perish every year even in this country from adder - bite, ..."

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