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Definition of alethe

alethe

/əˈliːθ/
a · lethe
Plural:alethes
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alethe Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A small, primarily insectivorous forest bird native to sub-Saharan Africa, typically belonging to the genus Alethe or related genera, often known for following ant swarms to catch fleeing insects.

Example

"The researchers observed a white-tailed alethe darting through the dense African undergrowth to catch insects flushed out by driver ants."

• Rhymes for alethe

• Nearby Words

alert
alertly
alertness
alethe
alewife
alex
alexander

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1859 by American ornithologist John Cassin as the genus name 'Alethe', derived from Ancient Greek 'alēthēs' (ἀληθής), meaning 'true' or 'real'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alethe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alethe
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