acontia

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noun

Threadlike defensive organs, composed largely of nettling cells (cnidae), thrown out of the mouth or special pores of certain Actiniae when irritated.

OriginNew Latin acontium ← Ancient Greek ἀκόντιον →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

nounacontia (plural acontias)

plural acontias · alternative acontium

  1. biologyThreadlike defensive organs, composed largely of nettling cells (cnidae), thrown out of the mouth or special pores of certain Actiniae when irritated.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀκόντιον“little dart”
  2. New Latinacontium
  3. Englishacontia

From the plural of New Latin acontium, from Ancient Greek ἀκόντιον (akóntion, “little dart”).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

acontia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acontia

MLA

“acontia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acontia. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acontia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acontia.

Source: acontia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.