Meanings
- not comparableJawless.
[…] the heads are inverted and agnathic (lacking a lower jaw) […]
1980, Thomas Pozorski, “The Early Horizon Site of Huaca de los Reyes: Societal Implications”, in American Antiquity, volume 45, page 1042 more examples
Mouth is without jaws (agnathic) in lampreys and hagfishes and bounded by jaws (gnathic) in all other vertebrates.
2004, V. B. Rastogi, Modern Biology, seventh edition, Pitambar, →ISBN, page II-61Mortal combat and decapitation are suggested by the eight skillfully and gracefully engraved heads depicted here with their serrated necks, the prominent arrowheads, and the agnathic or jawless head regalia.
2004, David H. Dye, “Art, Ritual, and Chiefly Warfare in the Mississippian World”, in Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand, Art Institute of Chicago, →ISBN, page 201 - not comparablemedicineAfflicted by or characteristic of agnathia.
[…]an imperforate pharynx which existed in an agnathic lamb.
1902, Bertram C. A. Windle, “Twelfth Report on Recent Teratological Literature”, in Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, volume 36, page 3032 more examples
In the mouth: various irregularities, such as wide separation of the teeth; abnormal development of the canines; the prognathic or agnathic jaw; high arching of the palate; cleft palate—all are found more frequently among persons otherwise degenerate than in normal individuals.
1913, John H. Musser, A Practical Treatise on Medical Diagnosis for Students and Physicians, 6th edition, Lea & Febiger, page 87Most pregnancies with agnathic fetuses are associated with polyhydramnios, which probably result from fetal inability to swallow because of persistence of the oropharyngeal membrane.
2006, Karen Gripp, Luis Fernando Escobar, “Facial Bones”, in Human Malformations and Related Anomalies, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 287Synonyms: agnathous
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveAfflicted by or characteristic of agnathia.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀ-“without”
- Englishagnathic
From Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-, “without”) + γνάθος (gnáthos, “jaw”) + -ic.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
agnathic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnathic
“agnathic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnathic. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “agnathic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnathic.
Source: agnathic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.