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.
fluviomorphology, river morphology
The study of a river channel and the network of tributaries within the river basin, in which an aerial view and the shape of a given cross section within a limited reach are examined at several points along the channel
gamomorphism
That stage of growth or development in an organism, in which the reproductive elements are generated and matured in preparation for propagating the species.
geomorph (s) (noun), geomorphs (pl)
A three-dimensional geometric surface or surfaces: The students analyzed the Earth's form as being an example of a geomorph.
geomorphic (adjective) (not comparable)
Relating to or resembling the Earth or its shape or surface configuration: Mr. Smart asked his students to read about the geomorphic aspects and structure of the Earth and report on it the next day.
geomorphic process (s) (noun), geomorphic processes (pl)
The physical and chemical interactions between the Earth's surface and the natural forces acting upon it to produce landforms: The geomorphic processes are determined by such natural environmental variables as geology, climate, vegetation and baselevel, to say nothing of human interference. The nature of the process and the rate at which it operates will be influenced by a change in any of these variables.

geomorphogeny (s) (noun) (no pl)
The study of the origins of land formations: Greg wanted to study geomorphogeny an d learn more about the surface features of the Earth and how they emerged from the beginning.
geomorphological (adjective), more geomorphological, most geomorphological
Pertaining to the study of the surface configurations of the Earth: The geomorphological evolution of present landforms shows the relationships to underlying structures, and the history of geologic activity as represented by such surface features.
geomorphologist (s) (noun), geomorphologists (pl)
Someone who studies the surface configurations of the Earth and the history of geologic activities as represented by such surface features: Dr. Crawford was Tim's father who was a geomorphologist and did research on the origins of the geological aspects of the Earth.
geomorphology (s) (noun), geomorphologies (pl)
1. The study of the classification, description, nature, origin, and development of present landforms and their relationships to underlying structures, and of the history of geologic changes as recorded by these surface features: Geomorphology is that branch of geology that deals withs the characteristics, processes that shape them, and configurations and evolutions of rocks and land forms.

Geomorphologists seek to understand landform history and dynamics, and predict future changes through a combination of field observations, physical experiments, and numerical modeling.

The discipline is practiced within geology, geography, archaeology, and civil and environmental engineering. Early studies in geomorphology are the foundations for pedology, one of two main branches of soil science.

Geomorphology is the science of landforms. It is the science that provides us with a closer look at the Earth's surface and the processes that have formed them.

Although geomorphology is concerned with landforms that currently exist, past landforms and events must be examined in order to fully understand how they came about.

Although the term geomorphology is a relatively new term (1880s), the examination of the forces of nature that have impacted the Earth's surface extends back into the days of early Greek and Roman philosophers, such as Aristotle and Seneca.

Their writings included ideas on stream erosion, earthquakes, and other deformations. Though these early philosophers speculated on the ideas of landscape evolution, these processes and thoughts were not fully examined until just before the 1800s.

geophilomorpha (pl) (noun)
Small elongated centipedes of the order Geophilomorpha: Geophilomorpha of the class Chilopoda live in soil and under stones and have more than 30 pairs of legs.
geromorphism (s) (noun), geromorphisms (pl)
1. Appearing prematurely old or the condition of seeming to be elderly while still young: Jane thought her friend had the demeanour of geromorphism because she grew up with her grandparents when her parents died at an early age in a car accident.
2. The impression of having lived for a longer time than one really has; premature senility: Jack’s father suffered from geromorphism because he had worked so hard on the farm all his life and was quite old and weak at the age of 35.
Physically looking older than one really is.
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gerontomorphic
Of, pertaining to, or designating anatomical specialization most fully represented in the mature male of a species.
gerontomorphosis
1. Evolutionary development that produces extreme specialization and, ultimately, extinction of a species or race, as with the dinosaurs.
2. In biology, a degree of evolutionary specialization of a species that decreases its ability to adapt and ultimately leads to its extinction.
gynandromorph
An individual of mixed male and female characteristics.
gynandromorph, gynandromorphic, gynandromorphism,
gynandromorphous
An abnormal combination of male and female characteristics.

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