spodo-, spod-

Paralytic spinal poliomyelitis principally involving the anterior horns of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by one or more poliomyelitis viruses and producing paralysis of muscle groups, particularly the limbs (from spodos, "ashes").

1. Ashes or soot referring to burned bone (usually used for medical purposes), or the act of divination with ash.
2. A reference to other types of ash; such as, the scrapings from the inside of a furnace.
3. Bone charcoal; especially, spent bone black from sugar factories used in making superphosphate.

1. Having an ash-like consistency as a consequence of microincineration of tissue fragments.
2. Pertaining to or caused by waste materials in an organ.

1. A patten of ash remaining after the incineration of a small quantity of tissue. It is used to identify the tissue's mineral content.
2. A photograph or diagram picturing the distribution of mineral ash of a cell or tissue section following microincineration.

1. The incineration of a very small amount of tissue and the subsequent examination of the remaining ash to identify the mineral content of cells and tissues.
2. The microincineration of a cell or tissue section for the study of the distribution of nonvolatile mineral ash.

Divination by examining ashes, especially those of a sacrifice or victim; tephramancy; tuphramancy: Spodomancy is a method of fortune-telling by means of the cinders, ashes or soot from sacrificial fires. The specific type of spodomancy that used patterns formed in the ashes of burned offerings made to the gods was often called "tephromancy".

According to a Middle Ages method, hollow, oblong cinders were known as "coffins", indicating a coming death in the family. Oval cinders, called "cradles", were indicative of the advent of a child. Round cinders, called "purses", indicated prosperity, and heart-shaped ones were the sign of a lover.

In Scotland it was said that if a clot of soot fell down the chimney during a wedding breakfast, it was a portent of bad luck for the newlywed couple.

Relating to spodomancy, or divination by means of ashes.

Destroying the waste matters in the body; said of scavenger cells.

Removing, transporting, or carrying off waste materials from the body.