English

Noun

hyænæ

1. plural form of hyæna
   • 1712, William Whiston, M.A., Primitive Chriſtianity Reviv’d, Volume V: Containing the Recognitions of Clement, or, the Travels of Peter: in Ten Books, book VIII, § XXV, pages 293–294:

     But now left, as Men are ready to imagine, theſe Events might ſeem to happen according to ſome fix’d courſe of Nature, and not by the diſpenſation of the Creator, he ordain’d that ſome few Creatures ſhould propagate their Kind upon Earth after a different manner, for an Indication and Sign of his Providence  : That for example, the Raven ſhould bring forth her Young at the Mouth, and the Weezle propagate at the Ear ; that ſome ſort of Fowls, as Hens, ſhould bring forth Eggs, addle either by the Wind or the Duſt ; that ſome other Creatures ſhould change the Male by turns, into the Female, and every Year alter their Sex ; as Hares and the Hyænæ, which they call Monſters ; the ſome ſhould ariſe out of the Earth, and take thence their Fleſh, as Moles ; others out of Aſhes, as Vipers ; others out of putrefy’d Fleſh, as Waſps out of the Fleſh of Horſes, and Bees out of that of Kine ; others out of Cows Dung, as Beetles ; others out of Herbs, as the Scorpion out of Baſil ; and on the contrary, that Herbs ſhould ſpring out of Animals, as Smallage and Aſparagus out of the Horn of a Stag or of a Roe‐Buck.