pensile

American  

[pen-sahyl, -sil] / ˈpɛn saɪl, -sɪl /

adjective

1. hanging, as the nests of certain birds.

2. building a hanging nest.

---

pensile British  

/ pɛnˈsɪlɪtɪ, ˈpɛnsaɪl /

adjective

1. ornithol designating or building a hanging nest

   pensile birds

---

Other Word Forms

• pensility noun

Etymology

Origin of pensile

1595–1605; < Latin pēnsilis hanging down, equivalent to pēns ( us ) past participle of pendēre to hang (equivalent to pend- verb stem + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s ) + -ilis -ile

Example Sentences

They stood upon bases, measuring 6 feet by 4 1/2 feet, ornamented carefully on each side with garlands hanging in festoons, literally, "garlands, pensile work."

From Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known Characters by Milligan, George

The moon shone down, but the shadows deep Of the pensile flowers, were hushed in sleep.

From Poems by Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)

The oriole uses them the most successfully, often attaching her pensile nest to the branch by their aid.

From Ways of Nature by Burroughs, John

Even better known than the birds, are the pensile nests which retain their positions on the swaying drooping branches all through the winter.

From The Bird Book Illustrating in natural colors more than seven hundred North American birds; also several hundred photographs of their nests and eggs. by Reed, Chester A. (Chester Albert)

Every year of his life has he seen the beautiful Hang-Bird weave his pensile habitation upon the long and flexible branches of the Elm, secure from the reach of every living creature.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 06, No. 35, September, 1860 by Various