The word "insect" comes from the Latin word insectum, meaning "with a notched or divided body", or literally "cut into", from the neuter singular perfect passive participle of insectare, "to cut into, to cut up", from in- "into" and secare "to cut"; because insects appear "cut into" three sections. Pliny the Elder introduced the Latin designation as a loan-translation of the Greek word ἔντομος (éntomos) or "insect" (as in entomology), which was Aristotle's term for this class of life, also in reference to their "notched" bodies. "Insect" first appears documented in English in 1601 in Holland's translation of Pliny. Translations of Aristotle's term also form the usual word for "insect" in Welsh (trychfil, from trychu "to cut" and mil, "animal"), Serbo-Croatian (zareznik, from rezati, "to cut"), Russian (насекомое nasekomoje, from seč'/-sekat', "to cut"), etc. COUNT 10
QSN1 What is the Latin term for insect? ANS1 insectum QSN2 Who introduced the Latin term for insect, borrowing from the Greek vernacular? ANS2 Pliny the Elder QSN3 How many sections does an insect's body appear to be divided? ANS3 three QSN4 Which Greek philosopher used the term entomos to describe insects, making reference to their notched bodies? ANS4 Aristotle QSN5 In what year is it typically reported that the word insect was first documented in English? ANS5 1601 QSN6 Insect means to have a notched or divided what? ANS6 body QSN7 Insects are cut into how many sections? ANS7 three sections QSN8 Who gave this class of life the name "insect"? ANS8 Aristotle QSN9 In what year did the word "insect" appear in a document? ANS9 1601 QSN10 Who introduced the Latin version of the word "insect"? ANS10 Pliny the Elder