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venomous

1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous; as, the bite of a serpent may be venomous.

2. (Science: zoology) Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion of venom, as certain serpents and insects.

3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a venomous progeny; a venomous writer.

(Science: zoology) Venomous snake, any serpent which has poison glands and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary maxillary teeth behind them. Venomously, Venomousness.

Origin: OE. Venemous, venimous, F. Venimeux, L. Venenosus, fr. Venenum poison. See Venom, and cf. Venenose.