commensal
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commensal
- /kəˈmɛnsəl/
Where it comes from
From Middle English commensal, from Old French commensal, from Medieval Latin commensālis, from com- + mensa (“table”) + -ālis.
adjective
- Of a form of symbiosis in which one organism derives a benefit while the other is unaffected. The fish (AMPHIPRION PERCULA) "intel-intel" of the blacks, is said to be commensal (literally, dining at the same table with its host), as distinguished from the parasite, which lives on its host.
- Eating at the same table.
noun commensals
- An organism partaking in a commensal relationship. 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.
- One who eats at the same table. Colville ordered it, and was sorry when the last of his commensals, slightly bowing him a good-night, left him alone to it.
Translations
Every language
noun organism partaking in a commensal relationship
| Español | comensal |
|---|
noun One who eats at the same table
| Português | comensal |
|---|---|
| Français | convive, commensale |
| Deutsch | Tischgenosse, Tischgenossin |
| Italiano | commensale |
| Ελληνικά | συνδαιτυμόνας syndaitymónas |
Talk about this word "commensal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/commensal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. commensal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/commensal "commensal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/commensal.Cite this
@misc{commensal_2026,
title = {commensal},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/commensal},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
