| 释义 |
megasthene|ˈmɛgəsθiːn|
[ad. mod.L. megasthena neut. pl. (see definition), f. Gr. µέγα-ς great + σθέν-ος strength.]
A member of the Megasthena or second order of Mammalia in Dana's classification, comprising the largest and most powerful mammals. Hence megasthenic a., of or pertaining to this order; also used by Dana in etymological sense, ‘having great strength’.
1863Dana in Amer. Jrnl. Sci. Ser. ii. XXXV. 71 There is a close parallelism with the Mutilates, the lowest of the Megasthenes. Ibid. XXXVI. 8 Among Crustaceans, the megasthenic and microsthenic divisions of which..stand widely apart. Ibid. 327 The Megasthenic-type. |