- prehensile
- pre|hen|sile [ prı`hensəl ] adjective TECHNICALa prehensile tail or other body part can wrap around objects and hold onto them tightly
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
prehensile
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préhensile — [ preɑ̃sil ] adj. • 1758; de préhension ♦ Didact. Qui peut prendre, saisir (d un organe qui ne sert pas uniquement à la préhension). Queue, pince préhensile. ⇒ préhenseur. ● préhensile adjectif (latin prehensum, de prehendere, prendre) Qui a la… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Prehensile — Pre*hen sile, a. [L. prehensus, p. p. of prehendere to lay hold of, seize; pre (equiv. to prae before) + hendere (in comp.), akin to E. get: cf. F. pr[ e]hensile. See {Get}, and cf. {Prison}, {Prize}, n.] Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
prehensile — 1781, from Fr. préhensile (Buffon), from L. prehensus, pp. of prehendere to grasp, to seize, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + hendere, related to hedera ivy, via notion of clinging, and cognate with Gk. khandanein to take in, hold (see … Etymology dictionary
prehensile — [prē hen′səl; ] chiefly Brit [, pri hen′sīl΄] adj. [Fr préhensile < L prehensus, pp. of prehendere, to take < prae , PRE + IE base * ghend , * ghed , to grasp > GET] adapted for seizing or grasping, esp. by wrapping or folding around… … English World dictionary
prehensile — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (chiefly of an animal s limb or tail) capable of grasping. ORIGIN from Latin prehendere to grasp … English terms dictionary
prehensile — adjective Etymology: French préhensile, from Latin prehensus, past participle of prehendere to seize more at get Date: circa 1785 1. adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around < prehensile tail > 2. gifted with mental grasp or… … New Collegiate Dictionary
prehensile — prehensility /pree hen sil i tee/, n. /pri hen sil, suyl/, adj. 1. adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something: a prehensile tail. 2. able to perceive quickly; having keen mental grasp. 3. greedy; grasping; avaricious. [1781 85; … Universalium
prehensile — pre|hen|sile [prıˈhensaıl US səl] adj technical [Date: 1700 1800; : French; Origin: préhensile, from Latin prehendere to seize ] a prehensile tail, foot etc can curl around things and hold on to them … Dictionary of contemporary English
Préhensile — Préhension La préhension (du latin prehensio) est d abord la faculté ou l action de saisir des objets, des proies ou autre avec la main. Le terme désigne également la capacité d un organe quelconque à saisir des objets ou autre. Le boa se sert de … Wikipédia en Français
prehensile — adjective /prɪˈhɛn.saɪl,priˈhɛnsəl/ Able to take hold of and clasp objects; adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object. Some monkeys have prehensile tails which they use to pick things up. See Also: prehensive … Wiktionary
prehensile — Adapted for taking hold of or grasping. [L. prehendo, pp. hensus, to lay hold of, seize] * * * pre·hen·sile prē hen(t) səl, hen .sīl adj adapted for seizing or grasping esp. by wrapping around <prehensile tail> pre·hen·sil·i·ty (.)prē .hen… … Medical dictionary
