mantis Hear it!

mantis definition

man·tis (man′tis)

noun pl. mantises -·tises or mantes -·tes′ (-tēz′)

any of an order (Mantodea) of slender, elongated insects that feed on other insects and grasp their prey with stout, spiny forelegs often held up together as if praying
often called mantid man′·tid (-tid)

Etymology: ModL < Gr, prophet, seer, kind of insect < IE base *men-, to think > mind

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