graminivorous

comparative more graminivorous · superlative most graminivorous

1. biologyThat eats grasses and seeds.

   If woman had a free hand in the world's marketing the race would become graminivorous.

   1906, Ambrose Bierce, “Abdomen”, in The Cynic’s Word Book, London: Arthur F. Bird […], →OCLC, page 4

   2 more examples

   We passed a large jaguar, glaring fiercely at a calf ten feet from him; […] Had we powder to waste, we would certainly have rid the graminivorous from many of their carnivorous neighbours, but we were now entering a tract of country celebrated for the depredations of the Texians and Buggles free bands, and every charge of powder thrown away was a chance the less, in case of a fight.

   1843, [Frederick] Marryat, chapter XII, in Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet, in California, Sonora, & Western Texas. […], volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 257

   "Bitzer," said Thomas Gradgrind. "Your definition of a horse." / "Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth; namely, twenty-four grinders, four eye-teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring; in marshy countries, sheds hoofs, too. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth." Thus (and much more) Bitzer.

   1854, Charles Dickens, chapter II, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC