-zoic, comb. form²

zoic
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoic_combform2%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2010

# -zoiccombining form2

## Factsheet

### Where does the combining form -zoic come from?

-zoic is a borrowing from Greek, combined with an English element.

Etymons: Greek ζῷον, ‑ic suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zodiographer, n. 1650
2. zoea, n. 1828–
3. zoeal, adj.?1870–
4. zoetrope, n. 1866–
5. zographer, n. 1570
6. zography, n. 1570
7. zograscope, n. 1753–
8. Zohar, n. 1682–
9. zoic, adj. 1863–
10. -zoic, comb. form¹
11. -zoic, comb. form²
12. zoid, n. 1856–
13. zoid, adj. 1864–
14. zoidiophilous, adj. 1872–
15. zoidogamous, adj. 1899–
16. Zoilean, adj. 1846–
17. Zoilism, n. 1609–
18. Zoilist, n. 1594–
19. Zoilitical, adj. 1665
20. Zoilous, adj. 1577–
21. Zoilus, n. 1565–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Greek, combined with an English element.
Etymons: Greek ζῷον, ‑ic suffix.
< ancient Greek ζῷον animal (see zoon n.) + ‑ic suffix. Compare ‑zoan comb. form…
< ancient Greek ζῷον animal (see zoon n.) + ‑ic suffix. Compare ‑zoan comb. form.

### Notes

Formations are found from the mid 19th cent., chiefly after scientific Latin formations in ‑zoa ‑zoa comb. form.

## Meaning & use

1. Forming adjectives corresponding to the names of taxonomic groups in ‑zoa, as hydrozoic adj., metazoic adj., etc. Also: forming adjectives designating animals having the type of body, reproduction, behaviour, etc., of the type specified by the first element, as cryptozoic adj.2, epizoic adj., monozoic adj., etc.
   animals ecology taxonomy

## Pronunciation

Primary stress is attracted to the first syllable of this combining form and vowels may be reduced accordingly.

## Compounds & derived words

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1. Palaeozoic, adj. & n. 1838–
   Of, relating to, or designating the earliest of…

1. Mesozoic, adj. & n. 1840–
   Of, relating to, or designating the second era of…

1. anthozoic, adj. 1843–
   = anthozoan, adj.

1. Neozoic, adj. & n. 1854–
   Of, relating to, or designating an era following…

1. polyzoic, adj. 1855–
   Chiefly Zoology. Consisting of many individual…

1. microzoic, adj. 1862–
   = microzoan, adj.

1. protozoic, adj.² 1864–
   = protozoan, adj. Also in extended…

1. arthrozoic, adj. 1877–
   (In some former classifications) designating a…

1. cryptozoic, adj.² 1889–
   Designating animals that live in concealed…

1. monozoic, adj. 1890–
   Of an oocyst or sporocyst of a coccidian…

1. pelmatozoic, adj. 1891–
   Designating or relating to echinoderms which are…

1. sporozoic, adj. 1892–
   = sporozoan, adj.

1. phanerozoic, adj.¹ 1896–
   Designating animals living in exposed conditions…

-zoic, comb. form² was first published in November 2010.

-zoic, comb. form² was last modified in December 2024.