What does dentulous mean?
Dentulous is a rare, precise adjective meaning “having teeth” or “toothed.” Its wording suits formal zoological description, as when a writer identifies a dentulous jaw, mouth, or animal, though it can also lend an archaic or literary tone to ordinary prose. The term is not a synonym for the act of biting, nor does it specify tooth shape, number, or arrangement; it simply marks something as possessing teeth. Compared with the familiar adjective toothed, dentulous sounds more learned and is much less frequent in modern English. It is also more specific in focus than dental, which commonly relates to the teeth themselves or to the mouth and jaw. Dentulous is therefore chiefly valuable for its precision and unusual flavor rather than for everyday communication, although it can be effective in descriptions of animals and their anatomy.
adjectiveHaving teeth; toothed.
- Possessing teeth; having teeth, especially in zoological description.
"The old crocodile's dentulous jaws opened in the shallows."
"The old crocodile's dentulous jaws opened in the shallows."
"Taxonomists used dentulous to distinguish the animal from its toothless relatives."
Dentulous means exactly what its Latin roots suggest—toothed—a compact, learned alternative that gives zoological prose a scholarly ring.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does dentulous come from?
Dentulous was borrowed from Latin dentulus, meaning “toothed” or “having small teeth.” Latin dentulus is a diminutive of dens, “tooth,” the same source behind English dental, dentist, and dentate. The English adjective has remained uncommon and is especially associated with precise zoological description.
Related word forms
How dentulous is actually used
Rare, formal, and chiefly literary or zoological. It is unlikely to occur in ordinary conversation, where toothed is much more natural.
Easily confused with dentulous
Dental means relating to the teeth, jaw, or dentistry, whereas dentulous specifically means having or possessing teeth.