mantis

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: man=tis

CIDE DICTIONARY

mantis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. a prophet.].

 Any one of numerous species of voracious orthopterous insects of the genus Mantis, and allied genera. They are predacious long-bodied large-eyed insects of warm regions, are remarkable for their slender grotesque forms, and for holding their stout anterior legs in a manner suggesting hands folded in prayer. The common American species is Mantis Carolina.  [1913 Webster]

Mantis shrimp. (Zoöl.) The Squilla, a tropical marine burrowing crustacean with large grasping appendages. Also called mantis crab and mantis prawn.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

mantis, n. (pl. same or mantises) any insect of the family Mantidae, feeding on other insects etc.

Idiom

praying mantis a mantis, Mantis religiosa, that holds its forelegs in a position suggestive of hands folded in prayer, while waiting to pounce on its prey.

Etymology

Gk, = prophet