metalli-

1. variant of metallo-:

   metalliferous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of metalli-¹

metallo-, -i-

Example Sentences

E la velocit del giro del danaro, non la quantit dei metalli che fa apparir molto a poco il danaro.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use metalli-

What does metalli- mean?

The combining form metalli- is used like a prefix meaning “metal.” It is very rarely used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry.

The form metalli- comes from Greek métallon, meaning “metal, mine, quarry.” Yes, quarry! Discover why at our entry for metal.

What are variants of metalli-?

Metalli- is a variant of metall-, which gains an -i- when combined with words or word elements beginning with -f-. When combined with words or word elements that begin with other consonants, metall- becomes metallo-, as in metallograph. Want to know more? Check out our Words That Use articles for both forms.

Examples of metalli-

One of the very few terms that features the form metalli- is metalliferous, “containing or yielding metal.”

The metalli- part of the word represents “metal,” but what about the -ferous part of the word? The form -ferous, ultimately from the Latin suffix -fer, has a variety of meanings, including “containing,” “bearing,” or “yielding.” Metalliferous literally translates to “containing metal.”

What are some words that use the combining form metalli-?

• metallifacture
• metallification
• metalliform

What are some other forms that metalli- may be commonly confused with?

• meta-
• myel-
• myelo-

Break it down!

The combining form -form means “having the form of.” Given the meaning of metalli-, what does metalliform mean?