The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Venomous \Ven"om*ous\, a. [OE. venemous, venimous, F. venimeux,
L. venenosus, fr. venenum poison. See Venom, and cf.
Venenose.]
1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous; as, the
bite of a serpent may be venomous.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion
of venom, as certain serpents and insects.
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3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a venomous
progeny; a venomous writer.
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Venomous snake (Zool.), any serpent which has poison glands
and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents
constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or
Solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or
Proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs
situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are
without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have
permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary
maxillary teeth behind them.
[1913 Webster] -- Ven"om*ous*ly, adv. --
Ven"om*ous*ness, n.
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