mantis
[ man-tis ]
/ ˈmæn tɪs /
noun, plural man·tis·es, man·tes [man-teez] /ˈmæn tiz/.
any of several predaceous insects of the order Mantidae, having a long prothorax and typically holding the forelegs in an upraised position as if in prayer.
Also
mantid.
Also called
praying mantis.
Origin of mantis
1650–60; < New Latin < Greek
mántis prophet, kind of insect; akin to
mania
Words nearby mantis
mantic,
manticore,
mantid,
mantilla,
mantinea,
mantis,
mantis shrimp,
mantispid,
mantissa,
mantle,
mantle plume
Example sentences from the Web for mantis
British Dictionary definitions for mantis
mantis
/ (ˈmæntɪs) /
noun plural -tises or -tes (-tiːz)
any carnivorous typically green insect of the family Mantidae, of warm and tropical regions, having a long body and large eyes and resting with the first pair of legs raised as if in prayer: order Dictyoptera
Also called: praying mantis See also cockroach
Word Origin for mantis
C17: New Latin, from Greek: prophet, alluding to its praying posture