morpho-, morph-, -morphous, -morphically, -morphia, -morphosis, -morphously, -morphy, -morphic, -morphism

(Greek: shape, form, figure, appearance)

Origins of morpho- words

The Roman god of sleep is Somnus; so, when we are sleepy, we are "somnolent". Sleep walking is "somnambulism" which in Latin means exactly the same thing; that is, "sleepwalking".

The son of Somnus is Morpheus, the god of dreams, indicating that sleep gives birth to dreams. Morpheus goes back through Latin to the Greek word for "form" or "shape" because dreams are forms and shapes developed in the mind while sleeping.

—Compiled from
Words from the Myths by Isaac Asimov;
Houghton Mifflin Company; Boston; 1961; pages 43-44.
acrostomorphilia (s) (noun), acrostomorphilias; acrostomorphiliae (pl)
A paraphilia or abnormal sexual deviation: In the textbook Rose was reading, it stated that acrostomorphilia related to objects that were not of a sexual nature, but had pathological characteristics.
actinomorphic
Capable of being divided into equal halves along any diameter, as the flowers of the rose or tulip; radially symmetrical.
actinomorphous
Capable of being divided into equal halves along any diameter, as the flowers of the rose or tulip; radially symmetrical.
actinomorphy (s) (noun) (no pl)
The pattern of radial symmetry in flowers: Actinomorphy can be exemplified by the rose in which the floral parts are divided into equal halves in more than one longitudinal plane.
adelomorphous
1. Having no constant or definite form; a reference to cells.
2. Not a clearly defined form.

In the past this term was applied to certain cells of the gastric glands.

aeromorphosis (s) (noun), aeromorphoses (pl)
The modification of a form or structure because of exposure to air or wind: Aeromophosis can be exemplified by the changing shapes, contours, and appearance of sand dunes in a desert resulting from varying air currents and wind.
allelomorph
One of several alternative forms of the same gene, occupying the same relative positions in homologous chromosomes.
allelomorphic
Pertaining to or of the nature of allelomorphs; either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character.
allelomorphism
The existence, transmission, or inheritance of allelomorphs (one of several alternative forms of a gene).
allochemical metamorphism
Metamorphism accompanied by addition or removal of material so that the bulk chemical composition of the rock is changed.
allomorph
1. Any of two or more different forms of the same chemical compound.
2. In linguistics, one of the alternate contextually determined phonological shapes of a morpheme; such as, en in oxen, which is an allomorph of the English plural morpheme.
allomorphic
Showing, or characterizing, allomorphism.
allomorphism
Variability in crystalline form without change in chemical constitution.
allomorphosis (s), allomorphoses (pl)
1. Allometric variation in a series of genetically different but related organisms; such as, variation in relation of jaw length to skull length of the adult in a series of breeds of dogs. 2. Evolution with a rapid increase of specialization characterized by the rapid developlment or growth of one anatomical feature or organ in relation to the entire organism..
allotriomorphic (adjective), more allotriomorphic, most allotriomorphic
Relating to something that is shaped or formed differently than what is considered normal.

Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving word units dealing with "form, shape, appearance": eido-; figur-; form-; icono-; ideo-; imag-; -oid; typo-.