Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Venomous ;poisonous . - adjective (of persons)
Cruel ;fierce ;ill-natured .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From Middle English attern, from Old English ǣtren ("poisoned, poisonous, venomous"), from Proto-Germanic *aitrinaz (“poisonous”), equivalent to atter + -en. Cognate with Middle High German eiterin ("poisonous"). More at atter.
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Examples
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The organization cautioned, however, that the period from March to June is a particularly difficult time of the year for forecasting developments in the tropical Pacific region and that it is still possible for El Ni "o persist or for the early stages of a La Ni" attern to be present by mid-year.
Spero News author unknown 2010
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