First published 2010
-zoiccombining form1
Factsheet
Where does the combining form -zoic come from?
-zoic is a borrowing from Greek, combined with an English element; probably modelled on a French lexical item.
Etymons: Greek ζωή, ‑ic suffix.
Nearby entries
- zodiac ring, n.1895–
- zodiographer, n.1650
- zoea, n.1828–
- zoeal, adj.?1870–
- zoetrope, n.1866–
- zographer, n.1570
- zography, n.1570
- zograscope, n.1753–
- Zohar, n.1682–
- zoic, adj.1863–
- -zoic, comb. form¹
- -zoic, comb. form²
- zoid, n.1856–
- zoid, adj.1864–
- zoidiophilous, adj.1872–
- zoidogamous, adj.1899–
- Zoilean, adj.1846–
- Zoilism, n.1609–
- Zoilist, n.1594–
- Zoilitical, adj.1665
- Zoilous, adj.1577–
Etymology
Summary
A borrowing from Greek, combined with an English element; probably modelled on a French lexical item.
< ancient Greek ζωή life (see zoism n.) + ‑ic suffix, probably after French ‑zoïque (in prozoïque prozoic adj.…
< ancient Greek ζωή life (see zoism n.) + ‑ic suffix, probably after French ‑zoïque (in prozoïque prozoic adj.).
Notes
Earliest in the 1830s in Palaeozoic adj., Protozoic adj.1
Compare earlier hylozoic adj.
Meaning & use
- Forming adjectives designating geological eras characterized by the presence (or absence) of the remains of living organisms, and the rocks or organisms belonging to such eras. Also: forming nouns denoting such eras, or rocks formed in such eras.
Pronunciation
Primary stress is attracted to the first syllable of this combining form and vowels may be reduced accordingly; see e.g. Phanerozoic adj.2 & n.
Compounds & derived words
- Protozoic, adj.¹ 1838–Designating rocks which contain fossils of the…
- Cenozoic, adj. & n. 1840–Designating the most recent era of geological…
- Archaeozoic, n. & adj. 1872–With the. The part of Precambrian time, ending…
- Cryptozoic, adj.¹ & n. 1881–Designating the eon before the beginning of the…
- Proterozoic, adj. & n. 1887–Of, relating to, or designating the eon…
- Phanerozoic, adj.² & n. 1930–Of, relating to, or designating the eon covering…