amplexus

English

Etymology

Latin amplexus (“embrace”)

Noun

amplexus (uncountable)

  1. A form of pseudocopulation, found chiefly in amphibians and horseshoe crabs, in which a male grasps a female with his front legs as part of the mating process.
    • 2018, Ed Douglas, The Guardian, 29 March:
      In the middle, just below the surface, a male and a female were locked in amplexus, a coupling that can last for days as the male waits to fertilise the eggs when they are laid.

Translations

Latin

Pronunciation
  • (Classical) IPA(key): /amˈplek.sus/, [amˈpɫɛk.sʊs]

Etymology 1

Perfect active participle of amplector (“surround; grasp”).

Participle

amplexus m (feminine amplexa, neuter amplexum); first/second declension

  1. surrounded, encircled, entwined
  2. embraced, clasped, grasped
  3. esteemed
  4. cherished
Declension

First/second declension.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative amplexus amplexa amplexum amplexī amplexae amplexa
Genitive amplexī amplexae amplexī amplexōrum amplexārum amplexōrum
Dative amplexō amplexae amplexō amplexīs amplexīs amplexīs
Accusative amplexum amplexam amplexum amplexōs amplexās amplexa
Ablative amplexō amplexā amplexō amplexīs amplexīs amplexīs
Vocative amplexe amplexa amplexum amplexī amplexae amplexa

Etymology 2

amplector +‎ -tus

Noun

amplexus m (genitive amplexūs); fourth declension

  1. clasp, embrace
  2. coil
  3. circumference
Declension

Fourth declension.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative amplexus amplexūs
Genitive amplexūs amplexuum
Dative amplexuī amplexibus
Accusative amplexum amplexūs
Ablative amplexū amplexibus
Vocative amplexus amplexūs
Descendants

References
  • amplexus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • amplexus in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • amplexus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
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