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plesiosaur

(plē′sē ə sôr′)

noun

any of an extinct group (order Sauropterygia) of large water reptiles of the Mesozoic Era, characterized by a small head, long neck, short tail, and four paddlelike limbs

Origin: < ModL Plesiosaurus < Gr plēsios, close, near, akin to pelos, near (prob. < IE base *pel-, to push > felt, L pellere, to drive) + -saur

See plesiosaur in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ple·si·o·saurs also ple·si·o·saur·i (-sôrˈī)

A large extinct marine reptile having paddlelike limbs that was common in Europe and North America during the Mesozoic Era.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin Plēsiosaurus, type genus

Origin: : Greek plēsios, near to; see pel-⁵ in Indo-European roots

Origin: + Greek sauros, lizard

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