-o-
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 5.12 in modern English
1
Scrabble Score
1
Letters
3
Syllables
1
Unique Chars
Meaning
interfix
A linking vowel inserted interconsonantally between two morphemes, to ease pronunciation, without contributing to the meaning. It frequently joins words or combining forms of Ancient Greek or Classical Latin origin in the classical compounds of New Latin and international scientific vocabulary, but it can also be used to join modern terms and even abbreviations, either formally or informally.
interfix
a monoclonal antibody derived from a murine source
Example Sentences
- "extreme + -o- + -phile → extremophile"
- "blog + -o- + -sphere → blogosphere"
- "speed + -o- + meter → speedometer"
- "sadism + -o- + masochism → sadomasochism"
- "smell + -o- + vision → smell-o-vision"
Etymology
Adopted from Latin -o-, originating ultimately from Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-). In English, the connective is found from the Middle English period in direct borrowings from Latin. Direct formations of English terms with the connective, always combining Greek or Latin roots, appear from the 16th or 17th century. From the 18th century, the suffix becomes productive in compounds where the second element is English. From about 1800, formations on all sorts of stems become common.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: -o-, -ο-
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.