prehensile

adjective

pre·​hen·​sile prē-ˈhen(t)-səl 

-ˈhen-ˌsī(-ə)l

1

: adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around

prehensile tail

2

: gifted with mental grasp or moral or aesthetic perception

prehensility

(ˌ)prē-ˌhen-ˈsi-lə-tē 

noun

Did you know?

You may be familiar with prehensile from the animal world: monkeys have prehensile tails, elephants have prehensile trunks, giraffes have prehensile tongues, etc. But can you comprehend where this word comes from? Can you apprehend its derivation? The Latin verb prehendere, meaning "to seize or grasp," is the ancestor of a number of English terms, including comprehend, apprehend, and prehensile. Prehensile came into English in the 18th century via French préhensile, from Latin prehensus, the past participle of prehendere.

Examples of prehensile in a Sentence

The monkey has a prehensile tail.

The elephant has a prehensile trunk.

Recent Examples on the Web

This four-limbed snake had prehensile limbs that might have been used for grasping prey or during mating. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

Some mammals have prehensile tails and can hang from them. —Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024

Native to Central and South America, the honey bear (Potos flavus) and the bearcat are interestingly the only carnivorous mammals in the world that have what’s called a prehensile tail. —Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2023

What does Rico's prehensile tail do? —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French préhensile, from Latin prehensus, past participle of prehendere to seize — more at get

First Known Use

circa 1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

prehensile

adjective

pre·​hen·​sile prē-ˈhen(t)-səl 

: capable of grasping especially by wrapping around

a prehensile tail

Medical Definition

prehensile

adjective

pre·​hen·​sile prē-ˈhen(t)-səl  -ˈhen-ˌsīl 

: adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around

prehensile tail

prehensility

(ˌ)prē-ˌhen-ˈsil-ət-ē 

noun

plural prehensilities