ovine
An animal from the genus OvisAn animal from the genus Ovis; a sheep.
Meaning
2 sensesAn animal from the genus Ovis; a sheep.
(figuratively)A person regarded as resembling a sheep in character; one who is acquiescent, easily influenced, passive, or willing to follow a leader blindly; a sheep.
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
The adjective is borrowed from Late Latin ovīnus (“ovine”) + English -ine (suffix with theThe adjective is borrowed from Late Latin ovīnus (“ovine”) + English -ine (suffix with the sense ‘of or relating to’ forming adjectives). Ovīnus is derived from Latin ovis (“sheep”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (“sheep”), possibly from *h₂ew- (“to clothe oneself, dress; to be dressed”) in the sense of something that provides woollen clothing) + -īnus (suffix with the sense ‘of or relating to’ forming adjectives). By surface analysis, ove- + -ine.
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