antennary
|an-ten-na-ry|
🇺🇸
/ænˈtɛnəri/
🇬🇧
/ænˈtɛn(ə)ri/
relating to antennae
Etymology
'antennary' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antenna', where 'antenna' meant 'yard (of a sail)'. The English adjective was formed by adding the Latin-derived suffix '-ary' (from Latin '-arius') meaning 'pertaining to'.
'antennary' developed after the borrowing of Latin 'antenna' into scientific/New Latin usage to denote an insect's feeler; English formed 'antennary' by adding the suffix '-ary' to mean 'relating to antennae'.
Initially 'antenna' referred to a 'yard' or 'spar' of a sail in Latin, but over time the term was applied to projecting sensory organs on animals and evolved into 'antennary' meaning 'relating to antennae'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a (rare, technical) term for an antenna or feeler, especially in zoological contexts.
One antennary was damaged on the specimen, reducing its sensory ability.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to or situated on antennae; pertaining to the antennae of insects or arthropods.
Researchers examined the antennary sensilla under the microscope.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/22 09:37