Anserine

Anserine

ˈan(t)sərən

Adjective

  • Of, relating to, or resembling a goose.
  • Stupid, silly.

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Example Sentences

“It felt anserine to argue about something so trivial during a family dinner.”

“The siblings laughed over an anserine joke that made no sense to anyone else.”

“The noise of the backyard party was overwhelmed with anserine honks as geese filled the pond.”

Word Origin

Latin, mid-18th century

Why this word?

The adjective “anserine” is the epitome of the idiom “silly goose.” The original usage of the word is to describe anything related to or similar to a goose. The secondary meaning is “silly, stupid.” It’s uncertain if the teasing phrase “silly goose” is related to both definitions of “anserine,” but it’s a useful, albeit rare, adjective. The Latin “anserinus” comes from “anser,” meaning “goose,” and the suffix “-inus,” forming an adjective. 

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