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cloven-footed

cloven-footed

7.9
Having feet with hooves split into two toes, like a cow or goat
  • adjective
  • /ˈkloʊvənˈfʊtɪd/
translation icon : parto hendido
  • The farmer raised various cloven-footed animals, including cows and sheep.

Examples

  • Many cloven-footed species can be found in domestic livestock, such as goats and pigs.

  • This parasite causes some cloven-footed animals to abort.

    Blog text (20)
  • In the forest, I spotted a cloven-footed deer grazing quietly by the stream.

Synonyms

two-toed
vscloven-footed
1 6.1

Having two toes on each foot or leg

refers specifically to split hooves rather than just having two toes
cloven-hoofed
vscloven-footed
1 6.4

With hooves split into two parts like cows or goats

expresses the same meaning but uses foot rather than hoof in the word

Surface Forms

cloven-footed positive

Morphology

cloven-footed = cloven + foot (transparent) = cloven + foot + ed

Meaning is directly built from 'cloven' + 'foot' with the adjectival '-ed' meaning 'having cloven feet', so learners knowing the components can derive the sense.

Etymology

Cloven-footed comes from cloven meaning 'split' and footed meaning 'foot', like in the word cleft, so it literally names animals whose hooves are 'split' into two toes.