commensal

English

Etymology

From Middle English commensal, from Old French commensal, from Medieval Latin commensālis, from com- + mensa (“table”) + -ālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kəˈmɛnsəl/

Adjective

commensal (not comparable)

1. (ecology) Of a form of symbiosis in which one organism derives a benefit while the other is unaffected.
2. Eating at the same table.

Translations

of a form of symbiosis

• Bulgarian: паразитизъм m (parazitizǎm)
• Finnish: kommensaalinen (fi)
• Polish: komensaliczny
• Spanish: comensal (es)

Noun

commensal (plural commensals)

1. (ecology) An organism partaking in a commensal relationship.
   • 2001, Yann Martel, Life of Pi, Canongate, published 2003, →ISBN, page 260:

     The tree did indeed grow right out of the algae, as I had seen from the lifeboat. There was not the least trace of soil. Either there was soil deeper down, or this species of tree was a remarkable instance of a commensal or a parasite.

2. One who eats at the same table.

Translations

organism partaking in a commensal relationship

• Bulgarian: паразит (bg) (parazit)
• Finnish: pöytävieras
• Polish: komensal m
• Spanish: comensal (es)

One who eats at the same table

• Bulgarian: сътрапезник m (sǎtrapeznik)
• German: Tischgenosse (de) m, Tischgenossin (de) f
• Greek: συνδαιτυμόνας (el) m or f (syndaitymónas)
• Polish: współbiesiadnik (pl) m, współbiesiadniczka f

Related terms

• commensalism
• commensality
• endocommensal
• endocommensalism
• ectocommensal

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin commēnsālis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ.mɑ̃.sal/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

commensal (feminine commensale, masculine plural commensaux, feminine plural commensales)

1. commensal

Noun

commensal m (plural commensaux)

1. commensal

Related terms

• commensalisme

Further reading

• “commensal”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.