ansa

American  

[an-suh] / ˈæn sə /

noun

plural

ansae

1. Archaeology. a looped handle, especially of a vase.

2. Astronomy. either of the apparent extremities of the rings of Saturn or of other planets, especially when viewed from the earth or from spacecraft under certain conditions, when they look like two handles.

3. Anatomy. a loop-shaped anatomical structure, found primarily in the nervous system.

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Etymology

Origin of ansa

First recorded in 1400–50 (in the anatomical sense “zygomatic arch”); 1660–70 ansa for def. 2; Middle English, from Latin ānsa “handle (of a cup or jar), handle (of a door), loop, clamp”

Example Sentences

The oldest equivalent is Lat. ansatus, used by Plautus, from ansa, a jug-handle.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

Hanc tibi virtutem fracta facit urceus ansa,       Et tristis nullo qui tepet igne focus,     Et teges et cimex et nudi sponda grabati,       Et brevis atque eadem nocte dieque toga.

From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 1 by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)