Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Prehensile

Pre-hen′sile

,
Adj.
[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.
préhensile
. See
Get
, and cf.
Prison
,
Prize
,
Noun.
]
Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping;
as, the
prehensile
tail of a monkey
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Prehensile

PREHEN'SILE

,
Adj.
[L. prehendo, to take or seize; prehensus.]
Seizing; grasping; adapted to seize or grasp. The tails of some monkeys are prehensile.

Definition 2024

prehensile

prehensile

See also: préhensile

English

Adjective

prehensile ‎(not comparable)

  1. (zoology) 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.

Derived terms

Related terms

  • prehensive

Translations

Etymology

From French préhensile, from Latin perfect passive participle prehēnsus, from prehendō ‎(“grasp, seize”), + adjective suffix -ile, from Latin -ilis.

Pronunciation

Similar Results