-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.
albiflorous (adjective) (not comparable)
In botany, concerning a plant having white flowers: Some albiflorous plants include impatiens, begonias, and dahlias, all of which are annuals.
algous
1. Pertaining to the algae, or seaweeds.
2. Abounding with, or like, seaweed.
2. Abounding with, or like, seaweed.
allogenous
Floras persisting from an earlier environment.
allonymous (adjective)
Pertaining to a publication that is indicated is the name of a writer other than the author: The article in the newspaper was presented with an allonymous identification instead of the actual writer.
ambilevous (adjective), more ambilevous, most ambilevous
Clumsy and uncoordinated when using either the left hand or the right hand: Nancy looked quite maladroit, or ambilevous, while she was trying to untie the knot in the ball of yarn she wanted to use for knitting.
amorphous (adjective), more amorphous, most amorphous
1. Having no definite form; shapeless, formless: Lying on his back in the grassy field, Brendan could watch the amorphous clouds float overhead.
2. Not belonging to a particular type or pattern: Toby's amorphous commitment to regularly paid employment was difficult to understand.
3. Of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: Kari has an amorphous style of writing; as well as, an amorphous personality.
4. In petrology, a mineral occurring in a mass, as without stratification, form, or crystalline structure: The amorphous layer of sand was mixed with an unidentified hard substance which made drilling for natural gas difficult.
© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
2. Not belonging to a particular type or pattern: Toby's amorphous commitment to regularly paid employment was difficult to understand.
3. Of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: Kari has an amorphous style of writing; as well as, an amorphous personality.
4. In petrology, a mineral occurring in a mass, as without stratification, form, or crystalline structure: The amorphous layer of sand was mixed with an unidentified hard substance which made drilling for natural gas difficult.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
for a list of additional Mickey Bach illustrations.
amphidromous
1. Fish which move between fresh and salt water during some part of their life cycles, but not for breeding.
2. Migrating from fresh to salt water or from salt to fresh water at some stage of the life cycle other than the breeding period.
2. Migrating from fresh to salt water or from salt to fresh water at some stage of the life cycle other than the breeding period.
amyous (adjective), more amyous, most amyous
Lacking muscular tissue or without muscular strength: The amyous physical condition of many elderly people in nursing homes is believed to be a result of too much sitting around and not nearly enough physical exercise.
anacanthous (adjective) (not comparable)
Regarding an organism lacking spines, spineless: Stella read about anacanthous creatures, or those which had no spiny processes, as the cod without spiny fin-rays.
anadromous
1. Fish that spend most of their lives feeding in the open ocean, but migrate to spawn in freshwater.
2. Fish; such as, salmon and shad that return from the sea to the rivers where they were born in order to breed.
2. Fish; such as, salmon and shad that return from the sea to the rivers where they were born in order to breed.
The best-known anadromous fish are salmon, which hatch in small freshwater streams, go down to the sea and dwell there for several years, then return to the same streams where they were hatched, spawn, and then die shortly thereafter.
analogous (adjective), more analogous, most analogous
1. Descriptive of something that is akin, resembling or comparable to something else: Marian's smile was analogous to a ray of sunshine bursting from behind a cloud.
2. A reference to that which appears to be related or alike in some aspects: Wings of many flying animals or insects are analogous to each other in function, but definitely not in structure; such as, the wings of an insect and the wings of a bird.
© ALL rights are reserved.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
2. A reference to that which appears to be related or alike in some aspects: Wings of many flying animals or insects are analogous to each other in function, but definitely not in structure; such as, the wings of an insect and the wings of a bird.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
ananthous (adjective), more ananthous, most ananthous
In botany, having no flowers: Ernestine has a very interesting ananthous plant in her garden which has an abundance of leaves but no blossoms.
anemious (adjective), more anemious, most anemious
Pertaining to a plant thriving in windy conditions: There are some anebmious shrubs and flowers, like the hawthorn flowers and foliage, that tolerate growing in exposed windy and windswept places.
anxious
1. Uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter; worried.
2. Attended with, showing, or causing anxiety: "She spent an anxious night waiting for the test results."
3. Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: "Her parents were anxious about her poor health."
4. Earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for): "They were anxious to please"; "They were anxious for our happiness."
5. Attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: "He had anxious forebodings about going on the trip."
2. Attended with, showing, or causing anxiety: "She spent an anxious night waiting for the test results."
3. Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: "Her parents were anxious about her poor health."
4. Earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for): "They were anxious to please"; "They were anxious for our happiness."
5. Attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: "He had anxious forebodings about going on the trip."
Anxious has a long history of use roughly as a synonym for eager, but many prefer that anxious be used only when its subject is worried or uneasy about an anticipated event.
Anxious and eager are somewhat analogous in meaning but careful speakers and writers use anxious when some doubt or worry exists; as, "She is anxious because the plane is long overdue." It is eager when the mood is one of joyous anticipation: "I am eager to hear the awards announced."
apterous (adjective) (not comparable)
1. In zoology, descriptive of creatures that have no wings: The biology class planned to visit the apterous section of the local zoo to learn about insects that have no wings.
2. Botany, having no winglike parts or extensions: When Joe planned his garden, he included many apterous plants which would not disseminate their seeds with winglike structures.
2. Botany, having no winglike parts or extensions: When Joe planned his garden, he included many apterous plants which would not disseminate their seeds with winglike structures.
