ˌhərˈpe(ˌ)stēz noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek herpēstēs animal that walks on all four feet, from herpēstēs, adjective, creeping, from herpein to creep
: a genus of Old World carnivorous mammals (family Viverridae) comprising typical mongooses and sometimes placed in a separate family
• her·pes·tine -_stə̇n, ˈhərpəˌstīn adjective or noun