northern African mongoose; in ancient times thought to devour crocodile eggs
ichneumon
How to use ichneumon in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for ichneumon.
Editorial note
I was nodding along until i reached: >Yes, even the bane of Darwin’s faith—the humble ichneumon wasp that lays its maggots inside the living bodies of caterpillars to eat them from the inside and burst out on maturity like some alien xenomorph—is a beautiful creature with a sacred task. Like many parasites, its role in the great chain of being is to test the health and defenses of its caterpillar host population.
Quick take
northern African mongoose; in ancient times thought to devour crocodile eggs
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of ichneumon gathered in one view.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for ichneumon.
noun
northern African mongoose; in ancient times thought to devour crocodile eggs
Example sentences
I was nodding along until i reached: >Yes, even the bane of Darwin’s faith—the humble ichneumon wasp that lays its maggots inside the living bodies of caterpillars to eat them from the inside and burst out on maturity like some alien xenomorph—is a beautiful creature with a sacred task. Like many parasites, its role in the great chain of being is to test the health and defenses of its caterpillar host population.
Here's a direct quote from the article, I'm sure that it speaks to something and to someone, and I'm sure I can find meaning in the analogies and examples, but it's not the type of writing I appreciate: > Yes, even the bane of Darwin’s faith—the humble ichneumon wasp that lays its maggots inside the living bodies of caterpillars to eat them from the inside and burst out on maturity like some alien xenomorph—is a beautiful creature with a sacred task. Like many parasites, its role in the great chain of being is to test the health and defenses of its caterpillar host population.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use ichneumon in a sentence?
I was nodding along until i reached: >Yes, even the bane of Darwin’s faith—the humble ichneumon wasp that lays its maggots inside the living bodies of caterpillars to eat them from the inside and burst out on maturity like some alien xenomorph—is a beautiful creature with a sacred task. Like many parasites, its role in the great chain of being is to test the health and defenses of its caterpillar host population.
What does ichneumon mean?
northern African mongoose; in ancient times thought to devour crocodile eggs
What part of speech is ichneumon?
ichneumon is commonly used as noun.