prosimian

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/prəʊˈsɪmɪən/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(prō sim′ē ən)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
pro•sim•i•an  (prō sim′ē ən),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. belonging or pertaining to the primate suborder Prosimii, characterized by nocturnal habits, a long face with a moist snout, prominent whiskers, large mobile ears, and large, slightly sideways-facing eyes, comprising the lemur, loris, potto, bush baby, and aye-aye. Cf. anthropoid, tarsioid. 

n. 
  1. a prosimian animal.
  • Neo-Latin Prosimi(i) name of the suborder + -an (see pro-1, simian)
  • 1855–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
prosimian / prəʊˈsɪmɪən/
  1. any primate of the primitive suborder Prosimii, including lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers
  1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Prosimii

Compare anthropoid4Etymology: 19th Century: via New Latin from pro-2 + Latin sīmia ape
'prosimian' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
anthropoid - aye-aye - bushbaby - lemur - loris - potto - tarsier

Forum discussions with the word(s) "prosimian" in the title:


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