form | Search Online Etymology Dictionary

-form

word-forming element meaning "-like, -shaped, in the form of," from French -forme and directly from Latin -formis "-like, shaped," from forma "form" (see form (n.)). Properly preceded by an -i-.

hydro-

before vowels hydr-, word-forming element in compounds of Greek origin, meaning "water," from Greek hydro-, combining form of hydor "water" (from suffixed form of PIE root *wed- (1) "water; wet"). Also sometimes a combining form of hydrogen.

parvi-

word-forming element used in science and meaning "small, little," from combining form of Latin parvus "small," which is from a metathesized form of PIE *pau-ro-, suffixed form of root *pau- (1) "few, little."

Latino-

prefix in use from 1939 as a combining form of Latin, from ablative of Latin latinus. By 1958 as a combining form from Latino.

nycti-

before vowels nyct-, word-forming element meaning "night," from Latinized form of Greek nykti-, a combining form of nyx "night" (see night).

-le

instrumental word-forming element, the usual modern form of -el (1), a suffix originally used in Old English to form agent nouns.

tacho-

word-forming element meaning "speed," from Latinized form of Greek takho-, combining form of takhos "speed, swiftness, fleetness, velocity," related to takhys "swift," of unknown origin.

-ry

reduced form of -ery.

cryo-

word-forming element meaning "very cold, freezing," from Latinized form of Greek kryos "icy cold," related to kryeros "chilling" (from PIE root *kreus- "to begin to freeze, form a crust").

narco-

word-forming element meaning "stupor, narcosis, sleep," also "of or pertaining to narcotic drugs," from Latinized form of Greek narko-, combining form of narke "numbness" (see narcotic (n.)).

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