The word "appendage" is commonly used in both scientific and everyday language. In biology, it often refers to any part of an organism that extends from the body, such as a limb, tail, or fin. It is also used in legal, technical, and formal contexts to describe supplementary documents or items. In literature, the term may also be used metaphorically to refer to secondary elements that are attached to or dependent on the main theme or narrative.
Word 'appendage' in Other Languages
- appendage in Assamese অসমীয়া
- appendage in Bengali বাংলা
- appendage in Bodo बड़ो
- appendage in Dogri डोगरी
- appendage in English
- appendage in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- appendage in Hindi हिन्दी
- appendage in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- appendage in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- appendage in Konkani कोंकणी
- appendage in Maithili মৈথিলী
- appendage in Malayalam മലയാളം
- appendage in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- appendage in Marathi मराठी
- appendage in Nepali नेपाली
- appendage in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- appendage in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- appendage in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- appendage in Santali
- appendage in Sindhi سنڌي
- appendage in Tamil தமிழ்
- appendage in Telugu తెలుగు
- appendage in Urdu اُردُو
Appendage
Part of Speech
Noun
Pronunciation
/əˈpɛndɪdʒ/
Definitions
- An additional part or item attached to something, often subordinate to or supporting the main part.
- In biology, a body part or limb that is attached to the main body, such as a tail or a limb.
- A subordinate or auxiliary item, sometimes used figuratively (e.g., a staff member as an appendage to the executive team).
Usage Examples
- The tail is an important appendage for many animals.
- Her role in the project was seen as an appendage to the main leadership team.
- The appendage of the document provided additional details on the procedure.
Etymology
From Latin "appendix," meaning "something added," derived from "appendere," which means "to hang upon."
Synonyms
- Attachment
- Extension
- Adjunct
- Supplement
- Accessory
Antonyms
- Detachment
- Removal
- Separation
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | apéndice | /aˈpendise/ |
| French | appendice | /aˈpɑ̃dəs/ |
| German | Anhängsel | /ˈanˌhɛŋzl̩/ |
| Italian | appendice | /appɛnˈdiːtʃe/ |
| Hindi | अतिरिक्त भाग (Atirikt Bhaag) | /əˈtɪrɪkt bʱɑːɡ/ |
| Mandarin | 附属物 (fùshǔ wù) | /fu˧˥ʂu˧˥ u˥˩/ |
| Russian | приложение (prilozhenie) | /prʲɪlɐˈʐɛɲɪə/ |
| Japanese | 付属物 (fuzokubutsu) | /ɸuˈzokuˈbutsu/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
The pronunciation of "appendage" is consistent in most English-speaking regions. However, certain accents may alter the emphasis slightly, especially in non-standard dialects or informal speech.
Historical Usage
The word "appendage" has been in use since the late Middle Ages, derived from the Latin word "appendix." Initially, it referred specifically to physical items or body parts that were attached or hung from something else. Over time, it became used metaphorically to describe anything supplementary or subordinate to a main body or item.
Cultural Nuances
In various contexts, "appendage" may be used pejoratively to describe something or someone seen as secondary or unnecessary. For instance, in the workplace, an "appendage" might refer to someone whose role is seen as marginal or unimportant. However, in biology, an appendage can be an essential and functional part of an organism's anatomy, like a limb or antenna.