-ous, -ious, -eous

(Latin: full of or having the qualities of; in chemistry, a suffix denoting that the element indicated by the name bearing it, has a valence lower than that denoted by the termination -ic; as, nitrous, sulphurous, etc., as contrasted with nitric, sulphuric, etc.)

Only a small number of the hundreds of examples are presented because there are just too many to include at this time.

xylophagous
Feeding on wood, as an insect larva, or boring into and destroying wood, as a mollusc or crustacean.
xylophilous
In biology, thriving on or in wood with the sense of a parasite fungus or wood-boring organism.
zealous (adjective), more zealous, most zealous
1. Referring to an individual filled with or motivated by eagerness and ferventness: Andrew's zealous children made a great deal of effort to clean up the house for Timmy's birthday party.
2. Relating to a person who is diligent and completely devoted to an activity; also that which is inspired by an avid endeavor: If people were more zealous and less jealous, this world would be a much better place in which to live.
3. Etymology: from Greek zelos, "ardor, eager rivalry"; from Latin zelus, "zeal, jealousy."
A reference to being ardently devoted to a cause.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

zoolatrous (adjective), more zoolatrous, most zoolatrous
Concerning the worship or excessive attention to animals: Mary was totally devoted to her cat, and her parents thought that she behaved in quite a zoolatrous manner.
Woman is overly devoted to her dog.
Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.