-zygous, comb. form

zygous
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zygous_combform%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2010

# -zygouscombining form

## Factsheet

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

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

Etymons: Greek ζυγόν, ‑ous suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zygostatical, adj. 1656
2. zygostyle, n. 1881–
3. zygote, n. 1891–
4. zygotene, n. 1911–
5. zygotic, adj. 1909–
6. -zygotic, comb. form
7. zygotically, adv. 1915–
8. zygotoblast, n. 1899–
9. zygotoid, n. 1891–
10. zygotomere, n. 1899–
11. -zygous, comb. form
12. zygozoospore, n. 1881–
13. Zyklon, n. 1939–
14. zymad, n. 1885–
15. zymase, n. 1875–
16. zymate, n. 1817–19
17. zyme, n. 1882–
18. zymic, adj. 1817–26
19. zymin, n. 1842–
20. zyminized, adj. 1888–
21. zymo-, comb. form

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Greek, combined with an English element.
Etymons: Greek ζυγόν, ‑ous suffix.
< ancient Greek ζυγόν yoke (see zygo- comb. form) + ‑ous suffix. Compare ‑zygotic comb. form…
< ancient Greek ζυγόν yoke (see zygo- comb. form) + ‑ous suffix. Compare ‑zygotic comb. form.

### Notes

In sense 1 after zygoma n. or zygomatic adj. & n.; earliest in the second half of the 19th cent. in e.g. phaenozygous adj.
In senses 2 and 3 after zygote n.; earliest in the early 20th cent. in e.g. heterozygous adj., homozygous adj.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   Physical Anthropology. Forming adjectives relating to the zygomatic arches of the skull, as cryptozygous adj.
   anatomy
2. 2.
   Genetics. Forming adjectives relating to the state of pairing of alleles at one or more genetic loci, as hemizygous adj., homozygous adj., etc.
   genetics
3. 3.
   Genetics. = ‑zygotic comb. form 2.
   genetics

## 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. phaenozygous, adj. 1863–
   Designating or having a skull with prominent…

1. cryptozygous, adj. 1867–
   Designating a skull whose zygomatic arches cannot…

1. monozygous, adj. 1921–
   Biology and Medicine. = monozygotic, adj.

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

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