ovine

Meaning

Adj

1. Of, being, pertaining to, or resembling a sheep; also, (not comparable) of an animal: from the genus Ovis.
2. Resembling a sheep in character; acquiescent, easily influenced, passive, or willing to follow a leader blindly.

Noun

1. An animal from the genus Ovis; a sheep.
2. A person regarded as resembling a sheep in character; one who is acquiescent, easily influenced, passive, or willing to follow a leader blindly; a sheep.

Synonyms

sheep

🐑

ewes

lamb

🐑

ewe

disbudding

sheepy

scur

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈəʊvaɪn/

Etymology

The adjective is borrowed from Late Latin ovīnus (“ovine”) + English -ine (suffix with the sense ‘of or relating to’ forming adjectives). Ovīnus is derived from Latin ovis (“sheep”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (“sheep”), possibly from *h₂ew- (“to clothe oneself, dress; to be dressed”) in the sense of something that provides woollen clothing) + -īnus (suffix with the sense ‘of or relating to’ forming adjectives).
The noun is derived from the adjective.