prosimian
|pro-si-mi-an|
🇺🇸
/proʊˈsɪmiən/
🇬🇧
/prəˈsɪmiən/
primitive, pre-monkey primate
Etymology
'prosimian' originates from Modern Latin, specifically the word 'Prosimia', where the prefix 'pro-' meant 'before' and 'simia' meant 'ape'.
'prosimian' changed from the Modern Latin taxonomic name 'Prosimia' (coined in the 19th century) and was adopted into English as the noun and adjective 'prosimian'.
Initially, it meant 'before monkeys' (i.e., primitive primates); over time it has continued to denote these primitive primates even as scientific classification has been revised.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of the group Prosimii (prosimian primates), such as lemurs, lorises, and galagos; a relatively primitive primate once classified as distinct from monkeys and apes.
The prosimian leaped nimbly from branch to branch in the rainforest canopy.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of prosimians.
Researchers studied prosimian behavior to learn about early primate social systems.
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Last updated: 2025/10/11 08:47