Synonyms for elephant


Grammar : Noun
Spell : el-uh-fuh nt
Phonetic Transcription : ˈɛl ə fənt


Définition of elephant

Origin :
  • c.1300, olyfaunt, from Old French oliphant (12c.), from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas (genitive elephantos) "elephant, ivory," probably from a non-Indo-European language, likely via Phoenician (cf. Hamitic elu "elephant," source of the word for it in many Semitic languages, or possibly from Sanskrit ibhah "elephant").
  • Re-spelled after 1550 on Latin model. As an emblem of the Republican Party in U.S. politics, 1860. To see the elephant "be acquainted with life, gain knowledge by experience" is an American English colloquialism from 1835.
  • noun large mammal
Example sentences :
  • These attack you—but run—at least the tiger, not the elephant, when you go out after him.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • He will never fly at your elephant, or climb a tree, or take to the water after you!
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • New-Haven enjoys an elephant that has corns, and is about to be operated on by a chiropodist.
  • Extract from : « Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 14, 1870 » by Various
  • People have so much to say about an ant's strength, and an elephant's, and a locomotive's.
  • Extract from : « Tom Sawyer Abroad » by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  • Asked how he knew that an elephant was going on a journey, the illustrious Jo.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • Cleopatra called him, with a note of gayety in her voice, to help her off "the elephant."
  • Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson
  • This creature looks as large as an elephant and as wild as a zebra.
  • Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson
  • What lad, on that final day, should ride within the elephant, and move his trunk?
  • Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown
  • What do I want to see anything for, if I can jest set inside that elephant?
  • Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown
  • This was our caravan, and God Almighty had created the elephant for us.
  • Extract from : « Meadow Grass » by Alice Brown

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019