testudinate

English

Etymology 1

From Late Latin testūdinātus (“arched, vaulted”). By surface analysis, Latin testūdō (testūdin- in compounds) +‎ -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

Adjective

testudinate (comparative more testudinate, superlative most testudinate)

1. Of, like or relating to a tortoise.
   • 2003: Fans of the testudinate pace and art-house vibe of writer-director Sally Potter — editorial review of the DVD The Man Who Cried, http://amazon.com
2. Resembling a tortoise shell in appearance or structure; arched; vaulted.

Synonyms

• testudinal
• testudinarious

Etymology 2

From a substantivation of the above adjective. Equivalent to Latin testūdō (testūdin- in compounds) +‎ -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Noun

testudinate (plural testudinates)

1. A turtle.
   • 1880, Library of Universal Knowledge, volume IV. 454:

     Cope..enumerates.. 13 sea-saurians, 48 testudinates, and 50 sea serpents.

See also

• potamian
• thalassian