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.
rhizomorphic
A reference to a bundle of root forms that function as a single structure, carrying the fungus across substrates or the nonliving material or base on which an organism lives or grows like a root through soil.
rhizomorphous
Having the form of a root or root-like.
river morphology (s) (noun), river morphologies (pl)
The study of a channel pattern and its geometric forms at several points along a waterway, including the network of tributaries within a drainage basin.
Sauropodomorphs
The early Sauropodomorphs were Prosauropods (“before the lizard feet”). They included the first plant-eating dinosaurs, and most are believed to have lived before the much larger, herbivorous sauropods (“lizard feet”).
Scolecomorphidae
Legless amphibians which superficially resemble worms or snakes.

They are rarely seen due to their habit of burrowing under the soil.

selenomorphology
The study of landforms on the moon, including their origins, evolutions, and distributions.
semimetamorphosis
A partial or semicomplete metamorphosis
speleomorphology
The processes by which caves change their formations.
stenomorph, stenomorphic
1. Dwarfed.
2. Smaller than a typical form, as a result of a cramped habitat.
tauromorphic
A reference to, or characterized, by the form of a bull.
tauromorphous
Having the form, or shape, of a bull.
tauromorphy
Shaped like a bull or having the head or horns of a bull.
teramorphous
1. Having a monstrous form or nature.
2. Shaped like a monster.
tetramorph
1. In Christian art, the union of the four attributes of the evangelists in one figure, winged, and standing on winged fiery wheels, the wings being covered with eyes.
2. The union of the four attributes of the Evangelists in one figure, which is represented as winged, and standing on winged fiery wheels, the wings being covered with eyes.
tetramorphic
A reference to having four different forms.

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