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Definition 2024


phœtus

phœtus

See also: phoetus

English

Noun

phœtus (plural phœtuses or phœti)

  1. (hypercorrect) Obsolete spelling of fetus

Usage notes

Hypercorrect due to incorrect insertion of a ph digraph, which implies that the ascendant was a Grecian word spelled with φ, and etymologically inconsistent usage of œ, which the original Latin spelling did not contain.