xeno-, xen-, -xenic, -xenism, -xenist, -xenous, -xeny
(Greek: foreign, foreigner; alien; different; extraneous; strange, stranger; and by extension, guest)
The "x" in xeno- is pronounced "z"; "zeno". Greeks are said to have considered any stranger a "guest" and modern Greek includes xenodocheion a "guest house" or "house for guests" or its modern version of "hotel".
The etymological meaning usually denotes some aspect of a relationship involving guests or visitors of some kind.
The desertion of a parasite from a plant in order to complete its life cycle on reserved substances obtained earlier from its host: Lipoxeny refers to a parasite that leaves its host for the continuation of its development, as into a stage of metamorphosis.
metoxenous (adjective), more metoxenous, most metoxenous
Regarding a parasite thriving on more than one host; metoecious; heteroecious: A metoxenous parasite passes through different stages of its life cycle in different animals.
Metoxenous parasites exist on different hosts at different stages in their life history.
A pathological hater of strangers: Merlin was a misoxene who avoided going anyplace where there were people he didn't know, so he made arrangements with a company to perform his work at home and not in an office with other people.
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Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
Something or someone that feels hostility or animosity towards strangers: A misoxenist simply will not tolerate anyone who is neither a friend nor an acquaintance.
Even pets, such as dogs or cats, will attack strangers because such people are despised and not welcome.
The scenes above represent an actual attack by a cat upon a postwoman in Germany in early 2002; because, whenever she tried to deliver a man's mail the cat would jump out and bite and claw her.
The owner of the misoxenist had to pick up his mail at a neighborhood bar because he refused to restrict the freedom of his cat to come and go whenever it wanted to do so.
A strong preference to stay away from unknown people and to avoid foreigners: As a result of his misoxeny, Mike refused to go the hospital if he had to share a room with strangers, so he insisted on having a private room!
monaxenic (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to a mixed culture of an organism with one prey species: An example of a monaxenic cultivation is that of a a nematode on a single fungus species.
monoxenous (adjective) (not comparable)
A reference to a parasite that lives only on one type of host: A monoxenous parasite is restricted or utilizes a single host species during its life cycle.
The situation or condition of a parasite frequenting only one host: Monoxeny can be exemplified by certain fungi that can go through all stages of their life cycle by feeding on only one host.
myremecoxenous (adjective), more myremecoxenous, most myremecoxenous
Pertaining to a something that furnishes both food and shelter for ants: Mr. Straight, Jim's biology teacher, asked his students to find a myremecoxenous plant that provide a continuous food supply and permanent nests for ants.
myrmecoxenous (adjective), more myrmecoxenous, most myrmecoxenous
Concerning an organism that thrives in association with ants: Myrmecoxenous insects do not form specialized adaptations for that association which shows a minimal amount of interaction with them.
The condition of an organism living in association with ants: Jill read an interesting article about myrmecoxeny describing the life of some insects thriving well with ants, but not creating any particular adaptations for interacting with them.
The feature of an organism that utilizes a few host species during their life cycle: In his book, Doug read about oligoxenyexplaining how parasites adapted to life in only a few species of hosts.
An inflammatory reaction to a foreign body implanted in an organ or tissue of the body: In the operation, Jeanette had a nickel replacement put into one part of her body, but shortly afterwards she suffered from perixenitis due to a strong allergy to nickel.
The situation of being hospitable to or entertaining strangers: While playing the piano for some people he wasn't acquainted with, Tom was experiencing philoxenism, and found out that this was really what he always wanted to do!
One who is fond of or who is happiest when entertaining strangers: Sometimes parents invited Jack and Jill, the professional philoxenists, to put on circus acts for their children's birthday parties.
