-zoa, comb. form

zoa
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoa_combform%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
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

1. zizzing, n. 1884–
2. zizzing, adj. 1919–
3. zizzy, adj. 1843–
4. Zlid, n. 1616–1785
5. Z'life, n. 1689
6. Z line, n. 1916–
7. Z-list, n. & adj. 1979–
8. Z-lister, n. 1999–
9. zloty, n. 1915–
10. Zn, n. 1814–
11. -zoa, comb. form
12. -zoan, comb. form
13. zoantharian, adj. & n. 1887–
14. zoanthid, n. 1870–
15. zoanthidan, adj. 1888–
16. zoanthodeme, n. 1877–
17. zoanthoid, adj. 1854–
18. zoanthropic, adj. 1891–
19. zoanthropy, n. 1856–
20. zoanthus, n. 1841–
21. 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

1. 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.
   animals 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. cryptozoa, n. 1794–
   Ecology. Cryptozoic animals collectively.

1. monerozoa, n. 1875–81
   = Monera, n. 1.

1. Mesozoa, n. 1877–
   With plural agreement: a group of minute worms…

1. Dermatozoa, n.
   Animal parasites of the skin.

-zoa, comb. form was first published in November 2010.

-zoa, comb. form was last modified in December 2024.