alate

comparative more alate · superlative most alate

1. biologyHaving wings or winglike extensions or parts; winged.

   Beetles fly, many ants send forth massive swarms of reproductive alate females and males, arachnids and insect predators emerge from their hidden refugia, and termite swarm.

   2016, Justin O. Schmidt, The Sting of the Wild, Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 113

   Synonyms: alated

plural alates

1. A winged, reproductive form of several social insects.

1. archaicnot comparablerecently; lately; of late.

   There hathe bene alate ſuche tales ſpreade abroade, and moſt vntruly, ſuch falſe taletellers ſhal haue a greuous puniſhement of the Lord whan he ſhall come to rewarde euerye one according vnto his deſertes.

   1552, Hughe Latymer [i.e., Hugh Latimer], Augustine Bernher, compiler, “[The First Sermon]”, in Certayn Godly Sermons, Made uppon the Lords Prayer, […], London: […] John Day, […], published 1562, →OCLC, folio 5, recto