prehensile etymology

Etymology:

The word "prehensile" derives from the Latin word "prehendere," which means "to seize, grasp, or lay hold of."

Meaning:

Prehensile refers to an organ that is adapted for grasping or holding. It is typically used in reference to the tails of certain animals, such as monkeys, opossums, and some reptiles.

Origin:

The term "prehensile" was first used in scientific literature in the 17th century. In 1682, the English physician Edward Tyson described the prehensile tail of a monkey, noting its ability to grasp and support the animal's weight.

Examples:

  • Monkeys: Many Old World monkeys, such as chimpanzees and macaques, have long, prehensile tails that they use to hang from trees and swing through the canopy.
  • Opossums: Opossums have prehensile tails that they use to grasp branches and support themselves while climbing.
  • Chameleons: Some species of chameleons have prehensile tails that they use to cling to foliage and catch insects.

Antonym:

The antonym of "prehensile" is "non-prehensile," which means an organ that is not adapted for grasping or holding.

prehensile relate terms

  • apprehend

    Etymology Latin apprehendere to seize lay hold of understand ad to prehendere

  • apprentice

    Etymology Apprentice derives from the Old French word aprentiz meaning one who lear

  • apprise

    Etymology Middle English apprise apparaisser from Old French apprise aprendre fro

  • beget

    Etymology Old English begitan to produce bring forth Proto Germanic bigitanan to

  • comprehend

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing

  • comprehension

    Etymology The word comprehension comes from the Latin word comprehendere which means

  • comprehensive

    Etymology Comprehensive is derived from the Latin phrase comprehendere which means

  • comprise

    Etymology Old French comprendre Latin comprendere Proto Indo European kom prenh₁

  • depredate

    Etymology The word depredate comes from the Latin word depraedari which means to

  • depredation

    Etymology Latin depraedatio meaning robbery plundering From depraedor meaning

  • emprise

    Etymology The word emprise has its origins in the Old French word empreise which in turn

  • enterprise

    Etymology The term enterprise has its origins in the Old French word entreprendre fo

  • entrepreneur

    Etymology The word entrepreneur comes from the French word entreprendre which means

  • forget

    Forget Etymology Old English forgietan from Proto Germanic for getan to forget neg

  • guess

    Etymology refers to the study of the origin and development of words It involves tracing

  • impresario

    Etymology Impresario is derived from the Italian word impresario which means contrac

  • misprision

    Etymology The word misprision originates from two Latin words mis meaning bad o

  • osprey

    Etymology The word osprey comes from the Old French word ospray which is ultimately

  • predatory

    Etymology The word predatory comes from the Latin word praedator meaning robber o

  • pregnable

    Etymology Pregnable originates from the following Old French preignable Latin

  • prehensile

    Etymology The word prehensile derives from the Latin word prehendere which means t

  • prehension

    Etymology The word comprehension comes from the Latin word comprehensio which means

  • prey

    Etymology The word prey comes from Old French preie which derives from the Late Lat

  • prison

    Etymology The word prison comes from the Old French word prison which in turn comes

  • prize

    Etymology The word prize comes from the Middle English word pris which in turn is d

  • reprehend

    Etymology From Middle English reprenhen borrowed from Latin reprehendere present activ

  • reprieve

    Etymology Middle English repriev a relaxation release from Old French reprieve f

  • reprisal

    Etymology and Meaning Origin Latin Meaning to take again Derivation Prefix re

  • reprise

    Etymology Reprise from the French reprendre to take again Latin reprendere

  • spree

    Etymology Middle English spreye from Old English sprenga meaning sprinkling or

  • surprise

    Etymology The word surprise is derived from the Old French word soprise meaning to

  • prae

    Etymology Prae is a Latin preposition meaning before or in front of It is derived

  • covetous

    Etymology From Middle English covetous from Anglo French coveitous from Latin cupidĭ

  • condition

    Etymology Middle English condicioun from Old French condicion from Latin conditio

  • deputy

    Etymology Old French depute Latin deputāre to appoint assign de away put

  • succession

    Etymology The word succession comes from the Latin word succeděre which means to c

  • risk

    Etymology and Origin The word risk originates from the Old Italian word risco which

  • heresy

    Etymology The word heresy is derived from the Old French hérésie which in turn co

  • crucible

    Etymology Old French creuset Late Latin crucibulum a diminutive of crux cross Latin

  • procrastination

    Etymology Latin procrastinare meaning to defer Derived from pro forward and

  • cosmos

    Etymology The word cosmos comes from the Greek word kosmos which means order or u