mantis English · revision 1558

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1646}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmæntɪs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-new|Mantis]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023) from [[grc|μάντις|tr=mántis|t=prophet, seer]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) which Theocritus also used of a kind of long insect with long forelimbs.^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) It is related to [[m|grc|μαίνεσθαι|tr=maínesthai|t=to be inspired, be mad]] and [[m|grc|μένος|tr=ménos|t=passion, spirit]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]];^(Etymonline)^(AHD) compare [[mania]] and [[-mancy]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An insect that holds its forelegs as if in prayer, especially the praying mantis (1646 in Merriam-Webster and the Historical Thesaurus; 1658 in the OED and Barnhart).^(MW Collegiate)^(HTOED)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Greeks compared the raised forelegs of a mantis waiting for prey to the hands of a prophet at prayer.^(AHD)^(Abracadabra 2004) The insect is named for this posture, so ''praying mantis'' and the species name ''Mantis religiosa'' are somewhat redundant.^(AHD)^(Abracadabra 2004) Other names of the same kind were ''praying locust'' and ''orator mantis'', from an old sense of [[orator]], “one who prays”.^(AHD) The ''mantis shrimp'' (by 1853; earlier ''sea-mantis'', 1690s) is named for its likeness to the insect.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1646 – the insect (Merriam-Webster).^(MW Collegiate)^(HTOED)

+ * 1658 – first quotation in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1850 – ''mantis-crab'', ''mantis-shrimp''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of various predatory [[insect|alt=insects]] of the family Mantidae, chiefly tropical, with a long body and powerful grasping forelimbs held up as if in [[prayer]]; a [[praying mantis]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praying mantis]]

+ * [[mantis crab]]

+ * [[mantis shrimp]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mantid]]

+ * [[mania]]

+ * [[-mancy]]

+ * [[mind]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}