potamo-, potam-

(Greek: river, stream)

autopotamous, autopotamic
A reference to organisms adapted to stream environment and which complete their life cycles in streams or rivers.
benthopotamous (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to organisms or plants living on the bed or bottom of a river or stream: Little Tommy wanted to watch the benthopotamous creatures while he was walking slowly through of the clear creek next to his home.
eupotamic
Pertaining to an aquatic organism thriving in both flowing and standing fresh water.
hippopotamic
Belonging to, like, or suggesting a hippopotamus; huge, unwieldly.
hippopotamoid
Resembling a hippopotamus.
hippopotamus
A pachydermatous quadruped, the African river-horse.
2. Hippopotamus amphibius, a very large beast with a thick heavy hairless body, large muzzle and tusks, and short legs, inhabiting many African rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
hippopotamus (s), hippopotami (pl)
1. A large, amphibious, short-legged, thick-skinned African pachyderm related to the pigs (Hippopotamus amphibius), having a massive body and a very broad obtuse muzzle.
2. Among living quadruped, it ranks next to the elephant in size, but is still much smaller.
3. Etymology: "river horse".

The hippopotamus, whose name comes from two Greek words meaning, "river horse", as stated above; is one of the largest and heaviest land mammals. Its Latin name is Hippopotamus amphibius.

Although strictly a plant eater, the hippopotamus has massive jaws with formidable tusks, as well as an unpredictable temperament and the ability to bite through small boats and slice crocodiles in half.

Male hippos aggressively fight each other over territory; with tusks that can be up to 50 cm (20 in) long, and are sharp enough to rip open a lion or seriously wound a rival. Hippos live in Africa, and spend their lives partly in water and partly on land.

—Compiled from information found at
MSN.Encarta, Quiz Results, "Nature's Killers".
Mesopotamia
1. An ancient region of southwest Asia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq.

Probably settled before 5000 B.C., the area was the home of numerous early civilizations, including Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria.

It diminished in importance after the Mongol invaders destroyed its extensive irrigation system in A.D. 1258.

2. Etymology: from Ancient Greek ??????????? (Mesopotamía); from ????? (mésos, "between, middle") + ??????? (potamós, "river"), because Mesopotamia is located between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.

The geography of the area allowed for the development of husbandry, agriculture, and permanent settlements.

Trade with other regions also flourished irrigation techniques were created as well as pottery and other crafts building methods based on clay bricks were developed and elaborate religious cults evolved.

It was the two rivers that became the basis upon which the wealth of the region was based and through relatively easy irrigation, agriculture could yield heavy crops.

Mesopotamian
1. A reference to the area of Mesopotamia.
2. A native or inhabitant of Mesopotamia (the larger part of which is now Iraq).
mesopotamic
A district between two rivers.
potamian
1. A river tortoise or a mud turtle.
2. Of or pertaining to the Potamites or Trionychidae, the soft-shelled river tortoises.
potamic
Pertaining to rivers, or transport by river currents; fluviatile.
potamicole (verb), potamicoles; potamicoled; potamicoling: river
To live or to thrive in rivers.

Some creatures that potamicole are the following:

  • Platypus, East Australia, Tasmania
potamicoline (adjective), more potamicoline, most potamicoline
Relating to creatures living or thriving in rivers.
potamium
A community of river dwellers.

Cross references of word families that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "river, stream": amni-; fluvio-; meand-; oceano-; ripari-.