What is the plural of octopus?
Technically speaking, octopus is of Greek origin, not Latin. But, it was in the New Latin language before being introduced to English. So, following octopus’s origin, some people would argue that its correct plural form should be octopodes (Greek) and not octopi. But, if you are to choose between octopi or octopuses, always choose octopuses.
Where do octopuses come from?
The octopuses arose from the Muensterelloidea within the Vampyropoda in the Jurassic. The earliest octopus likely lived near the sea floor ( benthic to demersal) in shallow marine environments. Octopuses consist mostly of soft tissue, and so fossils are relatively rare.
What is the meaning of octopodes?
Used figuratively since at least 1882 of powers having far-reaching influence (usually as considered harmful and destructive). The classically correct Greek plural (had the word been used in this sense in ancient Greek) would be octopodes.
How long do octopuses live?
Octopuses have a relatively short life expectancy; some species live for as little as six months. The giant Pacific octopus, one of the two largest species of octopus, may live for as much as five years.
Is octopus Greek or Roman?
But while focus, locus and alumnus are Latin words, octopus hails from ancient Greek. As the Grammarist explains, octopi "has no etymological basis." It only exists due to a modern fallacy that octopus comes from Latin.
What is the origin word of octopus?
The word “octopus” is a Latinized form of the Greek word októpus, which translates to “eight foot.” But the word's etymological history reveals why there's often confusion around how the pluralized form should be spelled, and what we're supposed to say when we're describing multiple cephalopods at once.
What did Romans call octopus?
polypusGreeks certainly knew about the cephalopod we call the octopus, but the name they used for this animal was polypous (i.e. many footed creature). It was this word that Romans borrowed to give the Latin word polypus…and this is the word they used to designate the creature we know as the octopus.
What is the actual plural of octopus?
Rule of thumb: if English gets the opportunity to trip you up, it will. The current champion in the Battle of Troublesome Pluralization is octopus, which, depending on which dictionary is consulted, may be written in three different ways: octopi, octopuses, and octopodes.
What is the Latin name for octopus?
OctopodaOctopus / Scientific name
What is squid called in Greece?
CalamariCalamari might be the Italian word for squids, but it's a popular dish associated with Greek food. In Greek, it is traditionally known as Kalamarakia Tiganita (little fried squids). Squid has long been a staple food source in the Mediterranean, but it took its time to make its way over to North America.
Who named octopus?
Linnaeus, who devised the now familiar system for classifying living things by giving them Latin names, established “Octopus” as the name for the genus and “Octopodia” (later “Octopoda”) as the name for the order of cephalopod mollusks with eight sucker-bearing arms.
Who discovered octopus?
The scientific name Octopoda was first coined and given as the order of octopuses in 1818 by English biologist William Elford Leach, who classified them as Octopoida the previous year. The Octopoda consists of around 300 known species and were historically divided into two suborders, the Incirrina and the Cirrina.
Do octopuses have brains?
Thanks to their nine brains, it seems that octopuses have the benefit of both localised and centralised control over their actions.
What does pus mean in octopus?
OCTOPUS, "EIGHT FEET" You already know the Greek octo- means eight from words like octagon. Pus (or pous) means foot, though we're used to seeing it in its combining form pod in words like podiatrist and tripod.
How smart are octopuses?
He said octopus brains varied, depending on where a species lived, when it was active and if it interacted with other animals. “The octopus is a master of camouflage, capable of solving complex tasks and their cognitive ability is said to approach that of some small mammals,” Dr Chung said.
What is the plural of donkey?
donkey /ˈdɑːŋki/ noun. plural donkeys.
What's another word for octopus?
In this page you can discover 13 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for octopus, like: cephalopod, jellyfish, devilfish, mollusk, squid, lionfish, lobster, frogfish, crab, clownfish and alligator.
Why does an octopus have 9 brains?
According to the Biogeo Planet, the octopus is considered the most intelligent creature because it has 9 brains. But how does an octopus utilises 9 brains? Actually, each of its eight brains helps in controlling the arm movements. And, the centre one for other activities.
What is the origin of the word pirate?
The English word "pirate" is derived from the Latin pirata ("pirate, corsair, sea robber"), which comes from Greek πειρατής (peiratēs), "brigand", in turn from πειράομαι (peiráomai), "I attempt", from πεῖρα (peîra), "attempt, experience". The meaning of the Greek word peiratēs literally is "one who attacks (ships)".
What is the correct plural for octopus?
The classically correct Greek plural (had the word been used in this sense in ancient Greek) would be octopodes. Octopi (1817) regards the -us in this word as the Latin noun ending that takes -i in plural. Like many modern scientific names of creatures, it was formed in Modern Latin from Greek elements, so it might be allowed to partake of Latin grammar in forming the plural. But since it probably is best to let such words follow the grammar of the language that uses them, and octopuses probably works best in English (unless one wishes also to sanction diplodoci for the dinosaurs).
What is the genus of octopus?
octopus (n.) 1758, genus name of a type of eight-armed cephalopod mollusks, from Latinized form of Greek oktōpous, literally "eight-foot," from oktō "eight" (see eight) + pous "foot," from PIE root *ped- "foot.". Used figuratively since at least 1882 of powers having far-reaching influence (usually as considered harmful and destructive).
Where did the word "octopus" come from?
For example, our modern English word octopus comes from ancient Greek roots that describe a creature with eight legs (ὀκτώ or okto, meaning eight + πούς or pous, meaning foot). The word was then Latinized to form octopus. As such, octopodes follows Greek pluralization rules.
What is the Correct Plural of Octopus?
The correct plural of octopus is octopuses . Although this word has ancient Latin and Greek roots, it’s an English word that follows normal English pluralization rules for words ending in “ s .” There are technically three octopus plurals: octopi, octopodes, and octopuses. The first two come from Lati n and Greek respectively, both of which are tied to the origins of the word octopus. The last option, octopuses, is the preferred pluralization in English.
What is the Name for a Group of Octopuses?
The most widely accepted name for a group of octopuses is a consortium. Other terms include tangle or clutch, but clutch is actually only proper when referring to a group of octopus eggs. It’s important to note that octopuses are usually solitary creatures that prefer to live alone. For this reason, there really isn’t an established name for a group of octopuses on the same level as a herd of cattle or murder or crows.
When did Octopi Become Octopuses?
You would not, however, be correct. In reality, the English language adopted the word octopus in the mid-1700s. Because English nouns ending in -s are switched to -es when made plural, octopus became octopuses. It wasn’t until the 1900s that grammarians looked at the Latinized Greek origins of octopus and decided the plural of octopus should be octopi instead.
How many plurals are there for octopus?
There are technically three octopus plurals: octopi, octopodes, and octopuses. The first two come from Lati n and Greek respectively, both of which are tied to the origins of the word octopus. The last option, octopuses, is the preferred pluralization in English.
What are some examples of irregular plurals?
Some examples of irregular plurals are aircraft/aircraft (instead of aircrafts) and antenna/antennae (instead of antennas). And yes, octopus is included in that group too! 📝 An irregular plural is a plural that doesn’t conform to the grammatical standard.
When did the word "octopus" become the plural?
1750s: The word octopus enters the English language. As such, the plural of octopus follows English grammar rules ( octopus; octopuses ).
