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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Commensal

Commensal \Com*men"sal\, n. [LL. commensalis; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F. commensal. Cf. Mensal.]

  1. One who eats at the same table. [Obs.]

  2. (Zo["o]l.) An animal, not truly parasitic, which lives in, with, or on, another, partaking usually of the same food. Both species may be benefited by the association.

Commensal

Commensal \Com*men"sal\, a. Having the character of a commensal.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
commensal

"one who eats at the same table" (as another), c.1400, from Old French commensal (15c.), from Medieval Latin commensalis, from com- "together" (see com-) + mensa (genitive mensalis) "table" (see mesa). Biological sense attested from 1870.

Wiktionary
commensal

a. (context ecology English) of a form of symbiosis in which one organism derives a benefit while the other is unaffected n. 1 (context ecology English) An organism partaking in a #English relationship. 2 One who eats at the same table.

WordNet
commensal

n. either of two different animal or plant species living in close association but not interdependent

commensal

adj. living in a state of commensalism

Usage examples of "commensal".

Steam generating glands from Brachinus beetles violently project a dart which is poisoned when it passes over the sex organs of a commensal Tetradontid fish.

Steam-generating glands from Brachinus beetles violently project a dart which is poisoned when it passes over the sex organs of a commensal Tetradontid fish.

Argaven's grandfather claimed the Sinoth Valley for Karhide, and the Commensals have never recognized the claim.

And the Commensals of Orgoreyn are mostly sane men, if unintelligent, while the king of Karhide is not only insane but rather stupid.

And it crossed my mind, though I dismissed the idea as baseless, that I had not come to Mishnory to eat roast blackfish with the Commensals of my own free will.

They believed that in doing so Orgoreyn would gain a large and lasting prestige-victory over Karhide, and that the Commensals who engineered this victory would gain according prestige and power in their government.

Obsle haggles and dickers with his fellow Commensals, Yegey employs blandishments, Slose proselytizes, and the strength of their following grows.

Why does not one of the Commensals force the issue and speak of him in a public speech or on the radio?

When dinner was over it was pretty late for going out again, and in any case the Solemnity would keep all the Commensals busy, Shusgis said, until after midnight.

I urged the men I distrusted least among the Thirty-Three Commensals to grant you entry.

Argaven’s grandfather claimed the Sinoth Valley for Karhide, and the Commensals have never recognized the claim.

When dinner was over it was pretty late for going out again, and in any case the Solemnity would keep all the Commensals busy, Shusgis said, until a^ter midnight.

Probably long ago, as some forms of urts became commensals with human beings, so, too, some humans may have become commensals, traveling companions, sharers at the same table, so to speak, with the migratory urt packs.

Great-aunt Agatha had been widely advertised by Sylva Commensals in their promotional material.