Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Forceps
For′ceps
,Noun.
1.
A pair of pinchers, or tongs; an instrument for grasping, holding firmly, or exerting traction upon, bodies which it would be inconvenient or impracticable to seize with the fingers, especially one for delicate operations, as those of watchmakers, surgeons, accoucheurs, dentists, etc.
Webster 1828 Edition
Forceps
FOR'CEPS
,Noun.
In surgery, an instrument for extracting any thing from a wound, and for like purposes.
A pair of scissors for cutting off or dividing the fleshy membranous parts of the body.
Definition 2024
forceps
forceps
See also: fórceps
English
A traditional forceps and other tools
Noun
forceps (plural forceps or forcipes or forcepses)
- An instrument used in surgery or medical procedures for grasping and holding objects, similar to tongs or pincers. (With singular or plural concord.)
Translations
instrument used in surgery
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Derived terms
- forceps delivery
- microforceps
Hyponyms
Latin
Etymology
From Proto-Italic *formokaps through syncope. Surface etymology: from formus (“warm”) + -ceps (“taker”).
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈfor.keps/, [ˈfɔr.kɛps]
Noun
forceps m (genitive forcipis); third declension
Inflection
Third declension.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | forceps | forcipēs |
| genitive | forcipis | forcipum |
| dative | forcipī | forcipibus |
| accusative | forcipem | forcipēs |
| ablative | forcipe | forcipibus |
| vocative | forceps | forcipēs |
Related terms
References
- forceps in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- forceps in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- FORCEPS in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
- Félix Gaffiot (1934), “forceps”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
- forceps in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
- forceps in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin