mantis
pronunciation
How to pronounce mantis in British English:
UK [ˈmæntɪs]
How to pronounce mantis in American English:
US ['mæntɪs]
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- Noun:
- predacious long-bodied large-eyed insect of warm regions; rests with forelimbs raised as in prayer
Word Origin
- mantis
- mantis: see necromancy
- mantis (n.)
- 1650s, "type of insect that holds its forelegs in a praying position" (especially the praying mantis, Mantis religiosa), Modern Latin, from Greek mantis, literally "one who divines, a seer, prophet," from mainesthai "be inspired," related to menos "passion, spirit" (see mania). The insect so called for its way of holding the forelimbs as if in prayer. Also used in Greek for some sort of grasshopper (Theocritus).
Example
- 1. But the visas mantis program already existed by then .
- 2. In some species , such as the chinese praying mantis , the courtship ritual is elaborate .
- 3. Different species of praying mantis can be mistaken for leaves , sticks or even flowers .
- 4. A mantis hangs upside down from a bird feeder , eating a dead hummingbird .
- 5. The life cycle of the praying mantis is short : only about a year in the wild and a little longer in captivity .