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se·rot·i·nous

(sĭ-rŏtn-əs, sĕr′ə-tīnəs)

adj.

1. Remaining on a tree after maturity and opening to release seeds only after exposure to certain conditions, especially heat from a fire. Used of the cones of gymnosperms.

2. Being a species having such cones: serotinous pines.

[Latin sērōtinus, coming late, from sērō, at a late hour, from sērus, late.]

se·roti·ny (-rŏtn-ē) n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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