faun-, fauni-, fauna-, -fauna
(Latin: animal; a collective name for the animals of a certain region or time)
2. The classification of animals
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
The bears are throwing away the signs that say, "Do not feed the bears."
2. The population of a micro-environmental niche; such as, intestine, bark, etc.
A Roman god of the forests and rural areas, he was patron of herding, hunting, and husbandry. He was worshiped in groves, where his oracles were heard by a visitant while asleep on a sacred fleece. He revealed nature's secrets to men only. His priests were the Luperci; his main festival the Lupercalia. Two festivals called Faunalia were celebrated on February 13 and December 5.
Faunus was identified with the Sylvanus and the Greek god Pan. He was considered a good spirit of forests and fields, and a god of prophecy. He had the form of a Satyr (a creature with goat-like ears, pug-nose, short tail, and budding horns) and is identified with the Greek god Pan (Greek woodland spirit or deity). At his festivals, called Faunalia, peasants brought rustic offerings and had a "merry" time.
He was also considered the guardian of the secret lore of nature. His priests were the Luperci and his social festival was the Lupercalia. The Greek equivalent to Faunus is Pan.
2. The fish-life of a sea or region of the sea.
2. Those bottom-dwelling forms that burrow.