Word
horned
US/ˈhɔɹnd/
UK/hˈɔːnd/
Definitions
01having horns
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having horns on the head.
adj. possessing horns or horn-like anatomical structures.
Español:astado
“The horned owl sat quietly in the tree watching for mice.”
“The museum displayed several horned skulls from ancient cattle breeds that are now extinct in the region.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02cuckolded
C2 · Proficiency Literature Archaic · Literary
adj. an old-fashioned way to describe a man whose wife has been unfaithful.
adj. referring to a man whose wife has committed adultery; historically symbolised by horns growing from the forehead.
“In the old play, the character was mocked as a horned husband.”
“Shakespearean comedy frequently employs the trope of the horned man to elicit laughter from the contemporary audience regarding marital infidelity.”
Teaching tip
This sense is strictly historical and literary; do not use it in modern conversation as it will not be understood or may seem offensive.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Scientists discovered a small, yellowish mountain horned dragon in Thailand and named it Acanthosaura syrax after a dragon from House of the Dragon.” “Jewish men in the 13th Century were forced by the Roman Catholic Church to wear a cone-shaped, horned skullcap called a Judenhut .” Etymology
From Middle English horned, hornyd, from Old English hyrned, ġehyrned (“having horns; horned”), from Proto-Germanic hurnidaz (“horned”), past participle of Proto-Germanic hurnijaną (“to horn; provide or fit with horns”); equivalent to horn (“noun”) + -ed. Cognate with Dutch gehoornd (“horned”), German gehörnt (“horned”), Danish hornede (“horned”).
See horn (verb).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/horned
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0