-zoon, comb. form

zoon
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoon_combform%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2010

# -zooncombining form

## Factsheet

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

-zoon is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly a borrowing from Greek.

Etymons: Latin ‑zoon; Greek ζῷον.

### Nearby entries

1. zoomorphism, n. 1822–
2. zoomorphize, v. 1940–
3. zoomorphizing, n. 1895–
4. zoomorphosed, adj. 1955–
5. zoom shot, n. 1930–
6. zoomy, adj. 1931–
7. zoomythic, adj. 1889–
8. zoon, n. 1851–1905
9. zoon, v. 1880–
10. zoon, int. 1863–
11. -zoon, comb. form
12. zoonate, n. 1798–1857
13. zoonerythrin, n. 1882–
14. zoonic, adj. 1798–1853
15. zooning, n. 1885–
16. Zoonist, adj. 1890–97
17. zoonite, n. 1838–
18. zoonitic, adj. 1860–91
19. zoonomic, adj. 1836–
20. zoonomical, adj. 1800–
21. zoonomist, n. 1800–99

## Etymology

### Summary

Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Partly a borrowing from Greek.
Etymons: Latin ‑zoon; Greek ζῷον.
< (i) scientific Latin ‑zoon (in e.g. Diplozoon Diplozoon n.),

and its ultimate etymon (ii) ancient Greek ζῷον animal (see zoon n.).

Compare ‑zoa comb. form and ‑zoan comb. form…
< (i) scientific Latin ‑zoon (in e.g. Diplozoon Diplozoon n.),

and its ultimate etymon (ii) ancient Greek ζῷον animal (see zoon n.).

Compare ‑zoa comb. form and ‑zoan comb. form.

### Notes

Attested from the first half of the 19th cent. in both senses, earliest in borrowings and adaptations of Latin terms (e.g. entozoon n., Diplozoon n.), slightly later in formations within English (e.g. in bryozoon n., polyzoon n.).
In sense 1 often after ‑zoa comb. form or its etymon scientific Latin ‑zoa.
Combining with first elements ultimately of Greek origin.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   Forming nouns denoting individual members of taxonomic groups with names in ‑zoa, as protozoon n., sporozoon n., etc.
   animals taxonomy
2. 2.
   Forming nouns denoting organisms having the morphology, mode of life, etc., specified by the first element, as epizoon n., microzoon n., etc.
   animals

## Pronunciation

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

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1800s–1900s
   -zoön
2. 1800s–
   -zoon

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. bryozoon, n. 1841–
   = bryozoan, n. Also attributive.

1. phytozoon, n. 1842–
   Zoology. A zoophyte; an individual polyp of a…

1. polyzoon, n. 1842–
   An animal of the former division Polyzoa; a bryozoan.

1. anthozoon, n. 1849–
   A cnidarian belonging to the class Anthozoa; =…

1. protozoon, n. 1851–
   = protozoan, n.

1. haematozoon, n. 1854–
   An animal parasite inhabiting the blood (Mayne, 1854).

1. microzoon, n. 1859–
   A microscopic animal organism; (later) spec. a…

1. ectozoon, n. 1860–
   (plural -a) see quot.

1. actinozoon, n. 1864–77
   A member of the class Actinozoa (Anthozoa); a…

1. Eozoon, n. 1866–
   A supposed genus of foraminifers or rhizopods, at…

1. metazoon, n. 1875–
   A member of the division Metazoa; a metazoan.

1. cytozoon, n. 1882–
   Any protozoan that is an intracellular parasite…

1. sporozoon, n. 1882–
   = sporozoan, n.

1. cryptozoon, n. 1883–
   A supposed reef-forming fossil of Cambrian or…

1. teleozoon, n. 1883–91
   A member of the Teleozoa; a multicellular animal…

1. mycetozoon, n. 1885–
   = mycetozoan, n.

1. trochozoon, n. 1890–
   One of the Trochozoa, a collective term for those…

1. Mesozoon, n. 1892–
   A worm of the group Mesozoa; = mesozoan, n.

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

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