English Explanatory Dictionary

gnathonic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Deceitful and flattering; toadying.

Pronunciation

/nəˈθɒnɪk/

Word forms

gnathonic more gnathonic most gnathonic gnathonical

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin Gnathōnicus, from Gnathō (genitive Gnathōnis), name of a parasitical character in the Eunuchus of Terence. Gnathō is from Ancient Greek γνάθος (gnáthos, “jaw”), used in the genitive γνάθου (gnáthou, “of a jaw”) to mean “greedy”; hence, a parasite in general.

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