n.
Pronunciation: lo ̇ r- ' d ō -s ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -do · ses \ - ' d ō - ˌ s ē z \
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek lord ō sis, from lordos curving forward; akin to Old English be lyrtan to deceive
Date: 1704
1 : abnormally increased inward curvature of the lower region of the spine resulting in a concave back as viewed from the side ― compare KYPHOSIS
2 : a mating posture of some sexually receptive female mammals (as rats) in which the head and rump are raised and the back is arched downward
– lor · dot · ic \ - ' dä-tik \ adjective