Feline

How to spell feline

6 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce feline

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does feline mean?

1. adjectiveRelating to cats or the cat family, or resembling a cat in appearance or movement.
2. nounA member of the cat family, from a domestic cat to a lion or tiger.

Feline in a sentence

• adjective

  The vet specialises in feline dental care.

• noun

  The lion is the only social feline that lives in groups.

• adjective

  She moved with a feline grace across the dim room.

• noun

  The shelter took in another stray feline this week.

Where does feline come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word comes from the Latin felinus, meaning 'of a cat', which was built on feles, the ordinary Latin word for a cat or any small carnivorous animal of that kind. The ending -ine, seen here, is the same Latin suffix that turns animal names into adjectives, as in canine for dogs and bovine for cattle. English adopted feline in the early 1600s, first as a learned adjective describing anything cat-like, whether the literal animal or a graceful, stealthy manner of moving. Over time it also came to serve as a noun for a member of the cat family, from house cats to lions and tigers. The spelling keeps the single 'l' of the Latin root, which is the main thing to remember, since the long 'i' sound in the second syllable can tempt writers toward extra letters.

How the word is built

• fel- (from Latin feles: cat)
• -ine (adjective suffix meaning 'of or relating to')