Zwitter

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word Zwitter. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word Zwitter, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say Zwitter in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word Zwitter you have here. The definition of the word Zwitter will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofZwitter, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

German

Etymology

From Middle High German zwitarn (bastard; hermaphrodite), from Old High German zwitarn (bastard). The first part is the prefix zwie- (two-, bi-), but the identity of the second part is unknown.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtsvɪtər/,
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Zwit‧ter

Noun

Zwitter m (strong, genitive Zwitters, plural Zwitter)

  1. (biology) hermaphrodite (individual or organism having both male and female gonads)
    Synonym: Hermaphrodit
  2. (figuratively, chiefly in compounds) hybrid (something of mixed components)
    Synonyms: Hybride, Hybrid
  3. (figuratively, chiefly in compounds) something showing incompatible attributes
  4. (obsolete) a child born of a relation considered illicit or incongruous (born out of wedlock, of different social classes, and/or of different races); a bastard; a mongrel
    Synonyms: Bankert, Bastard, Blendling, Kebskind, Kegel, Mischling

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Kashubian: cwiter

References

Further reading

  • Zwitter” in Duden online
  • Zwitter” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache