Etymology
Advertisement

cavernous (adj.)

c. 1400, "full of caverns," from Latin cavernosus "full of cavities" (source also of Italian cavernoso, French caverneux), from caverna (see cavern). Meaning "full of cavities, porous" is from 1590s. Meaning "deely hollowed out" is recorded from 1830.

Entries linking to cavernous

cavern (n.)

"large, natural cave under the earth," late 14c., from Old French caverne (12c.) "cave, vault, cellar," from Late Latin caverna "cave," from Latin cavus "hollow" (from PIE root *keue- "to swell," also "vault, hole"). In Old English such a land feature might be called an eorðscræf.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of cavernous

cavernous (adj.)
being or suggesting a cavern;
vast cavernous chambers hollowed out of limestone
cavernous (adj.)
filled with vascular sinuses and capable of becoming distended and rigid as the result of being filled with blood;
Synonyms: erectile
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near cavernous

cave-bear

cave-dweller

caveman

cavendish

cavern

cavernous

caviar

cavil

cavitate

cavitation

cavity

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper