pīˈerəˌdē noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Pieris, type genus + -idae
: a very large and almost cosmopolitan family of butterflies formerly regarded as a subfamily of Papilionidae that comprises the cabbage butterflies, sulphur butterflies, and others having three pairs of well-developed legs in both sexes and being usually of medium size and white or yellow color with dark markings especially on the edges of the wings