gyno-, gyn-, gynaeco-, gyneco-, gyne-, -gynia, -gynic, gynec-, -gynist, -gynous, -gyny

(Greek: woman, women, female, females)

Many of the words from these Greek elements refer to botanic or other biological nomenclature.

oligogyny
1. The mating of a single male with a few females.
2. The presence of a few queens within a single colony of social insects.
pentagynous
In botany, having five pistils.
perigyny, perigynous
1. Situated around the pistil or ovary: said of the stamens when growing upon some part surrounding the ovary (either the calyx, or the corolla, or the edge of the hollowed receptacle); also said of a flower in which the stamens are so placed.
2. Having sepals, petals, and stamens around the edge of a cuplike receptacle containing the ovary, as in flowers of the rose or cherry.
3. Of or being perigynous flower parts; such as, stamens, petals, etc., so arranged.
4. Anything surrounding a female reproductive organ.
5. Opposites of epigynous and hypogynous.
philogynist (s) (noun), philogynists (pl)
One who has a special fondness for women as a group: Jack, as a philogynist, took part in the march that took place on the International Women's Day in his city.
philogynous (adjective), more philogynous, most philogynous
A special fondness or love of women: Greg had great philogynous views and respect for those who had at least two jobs, like taking care of the home and children and the job as a teacher.
phthisogyne
A female pupal ant which has wasted away through the attack of a parasite.
phytoproterogynous
Having the styles of a flower mature before the pollen ripens.
pleurogynous
In botany, a reference to stamens or petals when inserted on the sides of the ovary.
polygynous
1. In botany, having many pistils, styles, or stigmas; specifically belonging to the order Polygynia.
2. Having more than one wife or having several wives (or concubines); practicing, pertaining to, or involving polygyny.
3. In zoology, a reference to a male animal that has several female mates; characterized by polygyny, as a species.
polygyny
1. The practice of having many female mates.
2. The mating of a single male with several females.
3. The presence of many queens within a single colony of social insects.
progynous
The condition of a hermaphrodite in which the female portions mature first.
proterogynous
1. In botany, having the pistil or female organ mature before the stamens or male organs.
2. In zoology, of a hermaphrodite animal, or a colony of zooids: Having the female organs, or individuals, sexually mature before the male.
protogyne
The male-like female that distinguishes one of the alternate generations of those trombidiformacarines (a group that contains the free-living water mites, as well as numerous plant and animal parasites, including the chiggers).
protogynous, protogyny, progynous
1. In botany, having the pistil or female organ mature before the stamens or male organs.
2. Frequently used as a synonym for progynous, but it is also used to describe the condition of being a hermaphrodite; that is, first being a female and then later, becoming a male.
pseudogyne
A parthenogenetic female, particularly in insects.

Quiz You may take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section by just clicking on Gyno Quiz to check your word knowledge.

Related "woman, female" units: anilo-; fem-; mulie-; virgo-.