ansa

[an-suh]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ansa¹

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

On Tuesday, Mr Marcello's family told Italy's Ansa news agency that his satellite radio signal was continuing to update and appeared to be moving.

Read more on BBC

"Upon entering the house, we were confronted with an act of absolute madness," provincial police commander Claudio Papagno told the Ansa news agency.

Read more on BBC

Those injured by the blast included 11 other members of the Carabinieri and well as three members of Italy's state police and a firefighter, Ansa reported.

Read more on BBC

One of the workers is in a coma, according to reports by Italian news agency Ansa, who report that he was resuscitated, intubated and taken to San Bassiano hospital by helicopter.

Read more on BBC

"I can't say if he's remorseful, he's quite closed up," Mr Leone was quoted by Ansa news agency as saying.

Read more on BBC