n.
Pronunciation: h ī - ' ē -n ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural hyenas also hyena
Etymology: Middle English hyene, from Latin hyaena, from Greek hyaina, from hys hog ― more at SOW
Date: 14th century
: any of several large strong nocturnal carnivorous Old World mammals (family Hyaenidae) that usually feed as scavengers
– hy · e · nic \ - ' ē -nik, - ' e-nik \ adjective