Prehensile Pre·Hen·Sile Adjective Prehendere Tail Gifted Préhensile Latin

pre·hen·sile
\\prē-ˈhen(t)-səl, -ˈhen-ˌsī(-ə)l\\ adjective1. adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around
    prehensile tail
2. gifted with mental grasp or moral or aesthetic perception
• pre·hen·sil·i·ty \\(ˌ)prē-ˌhen-ˈsi-lə-tē\\ noun

prehensile
  1781, from Fr. préhensile (Buffon), from L. prehensus, pp. of prehendere "to grasp, to seize," from præ- "before" + -hendere, related to hedera "ivy," via notion of "clinging," and cognate with Gk. khandanein "to take in, hold" (see get).

prehensile
pre·hen·sile / pri5hensail; NAmE -sl / adjective   (technical 术语) (of a part of an animal's body 动物肢体的一部份) able to hold things
   能抓住东西的；缠绕性的:
   the monkey's prehensile tail
   猴子能缠住东西的尾巴

pre·hen·sile
\prēˈhen(t)səl\ adjective
Etymology: French préhensile, from Latin prehensus (past participle of prehendere to grasp, seize, from pre- — from prae- pre- — + -hendere — akin to Old Norse geta to get) + French -ile — more at
1. : adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around
 < the prehensile tail of a monkey >
 < a prehensile upper lip … used to pluck foliage — Grace H. Glueck >
2.
 a. : gifted with mental grasp or moral or aesthetic insight or perception
  < our poets — those gifted strangely prehensile men — A.T.Quiller-Couch >
 b. : showing cupidity : ,
  < increased the staff of his prehensile employees — J.B.Cabell & A.J.Hanna >

• pre·hen·sil·i·ty \ˌprē(ˌ)henˈsiləd.ē\ noun -es