uncus

English

Etymology

From Latin uncus (“hook”).

Noun

uncus (plural unci)

1. (zoology) A hook or claw.
2. (anatomy) Hence, any body part which is long, thin, and curved.
3. (neuroanatomy) Specifically, the hooked end of the parahippocampal gyrus of the temporal lobe; also called the uncinate gyrus or uncus gyri parahippocampalis.

Related terms

• uncous

Latin

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *onkos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ónkos (“hook”). Cognates include Ancient Greek ὄγκος (ónkos) and Sanskrit अङ्क (aṅká).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈun.kus/, [ˈʊŋkʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈun.kus/, [ˈuŋkus]

Noun

uncus m (genitive uncī); second declension

1. hook, barb
2. a hook used to drag criminals by the neck
3. (medicine) a surgical instrument

Declension

Second-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	uncus	uncī
Genitive	uncī	uncōrum
Dative	uncō	uncīs
Accusative	uncum	uncōs
Ablative	uncō	uncīs
Vocative	unce	uncī

Synonyms

• (hook, barb): uncīnus

Derived terms

• uncifer (New Latin)

Descendants

• Translingual: Uncifera

Adjective

uncus (feminine unca, neuter uncum); first/second-declension adjective

1. hooked, curved, barbed
2. crooked, bent

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number	Singular				Plural
Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	uncus	unca	uncum		uncī	uncae	unca
Genitive	uncī	uncae	uncī		uncōrum	uncārum	uncōrum
Dative	uncō		uncō		uncīs
Accusative	uncum	uncam	uncum		uncōs	uncās	unca
Ablative	uncō	uncā	uncō		uncīs
Vocative	unce	unca	uncum		uncī	uncae	unca

Derived terms

• aduncus
• obuncus

Related terms

• uncātiō
• uncātus
• uncīnus

References

• “uncus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “uncus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• uncus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.