First published 2010
-zoacombining form
Factsheet
Where does the combining form -zoa come from?
-zoa is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin ‑zoa.
Nearby entries
- zizzing, n.1884–
- zizzing, adj.1919–
- zizzy, adj.1843–
- Zlid, n.1616–1785
- Z'life, n.1689
- Z line, n.1916–
- Z-list, n. & adj.1979–
- Z-lister, n.1999–
- zloty, n.1915–
- Zn, n.1814–
- -zoa, comb. form
- -zoan, comb. form
- zoantharian, adj. & n.1887–
- zoanthid, n.1870–
- zoanthidan, adj.1888–
- zoanthodeme, n.1877–
- zoanthoid, adj.1854–
- zoanthropic, adj.1891–
- zoanthropy, n.1856–
- zoanthus, n.1841–
- zoarial, adj.1896–
Etymology
Summary
A borrowing from Latin.
Etymon: Latin ‑zoa.
< scientific Latin ‑zoa (in e.g. Cryptozoa cryptozoa n.) < ancient Greek ζῷα, plural of ζῷον animal (see zoon n.). Compare ‑zoon comb. form, ‑zoan comb. form…
< scientific Latin ‑zoa (in e.g. Cryptozoa cryptozoa n.) < ancient Greek ζῷα, plural of ζῷον animal (see zoon n.). Compare ‑zoon comb. form, ‑zoan comb. form.
Notes
Found from the end of the 18th cent., chiefly in borrowings from scientific Latin.
Meaning & use
- Forming nouns denoting taxonomic divisions and other groups of living organisms, esp. those considered to form part of the animal kingdom, as Dermatozoa n., hypozoa n.
Pronunciation
Primary stress is attracted to the first syllable of this combining form and vowels may be reduced accordingly.
Compounds & derived words
- cryptozoa, n. 1794–Ecology. Cryptozoic animals collectively.
- monerozoa, n. 1875–81= Monera, n. 1.
- Mesozoa, n. 1877–With plural agreement: a group of minute worms…
- Animal parasites of the skin.