Word Study
commensal
CIDE DICTIONARY
commensal, n. [LL. commensalis; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F. commensal. Cf. Mensal.].
- One who eats at the same table. [1913 Webster]
- An animal, not truly parasitic, which lives in, with, or on, another, partaking usually of the same food. Both species may be benefited by the association. [1913 Webster]
commensal, a.
Having the character of a commensal. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
commensal, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 Biol. of, relating to, or exhibiting commensalism.
2 (of a person) eating at the same table as another.
--n.
1 Biol. a commensal organism.
2 one who eats at the same table as another.
--adj.
1 Biol. of, relating to, or exhibiting commensalism.
2 (of a person) eating at the same table as another.
--n.
1 Biol. a commensal organism.
2 one who eats at the same table as another.
Derivative
commensality n.
Etymology
ME f. F commensal or med.L commensalis (in sense 2) (as COM-, mensa table)
THESAURUS
commensal
cannibal, cannibalistic, carnivorous, coacting, coactive, coadjutant, coadjuvant, coefficient, collaborative, collective, collectivist, collectivistic, collusive, combined, common, communal, communalist, communalistic, communist, communistic, communitarian, concerted, concordant, concurrent, concurring, conniving, cooperant, cooperating, cooperative, dietetic, dining, eating, ecological, ecotopic, ecumenic, feeding, fellow, flesh-eating, fruitarian, gastronomic, gluttonous, grain-eating, graminivorous, granivorous, grass-eating, harmonious, harmonized, herbivorous, insect-eating, insectivorous, joint, lactovegetarian, man-eating, meat-eating, mensal, mutual, noncompetitive, nourishing, nutritious, omnivorous, omophagous, pantophagous, parasitic, phytivorous, phytophagous, plant-eating, postprandial, prandial, predacious, preprandial, reciprocal, symbiotic, synergetic, synergic, synergistic, uncompetitive, vegetable-eating, vegetarianFor further exploring for "commensal" in Webster Dictionary Online
