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Definition of european adder
european adder
Plural:European adders
european adder Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A widely distributed venomous snake (Vipera berus) native to varied terrains across Europe and northern Asia, typically characterized by a distinct dark zigzag pattern along its back.
Example
"While hiking in the Scottish Highlands, the guide advised us to watch our step to avoid disturbing a basking European adder."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for european adder• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The term combines the proper adjective 'European' with 'adder', which stems from the Old English 'nædre' (meaning 'serpent' or 'snake'). Through a historical linguistic process called rebracketing, 'a nadder' eventually became 'an adder'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of European adder. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/european adder