suffruticose

[suh-froo-ti-kohs] /səˈfru tɪˌkoʊs/

Word Origin

adjective

woody at the base and herbaceous above.

Origin of suffruticose

1785-1795

1785-95; < New Latin suffruticōsus, equivalent to Latin suf- suf- + frutic- (stem of frutex shrub, bush) + -ōsus -ose¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018.
Cite This Source

Examples from the Web for suffruticose

Historical Examples

A species of one of the suffruticose Acanthaccæ (Strobilanthes), which grows, abundantly in the mountain ranges of Ceylon.

Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon J. Emerson Tennent
suffruticose or Frutescent, when low stems are decidedly woody below, but herbaceous above.

The Elements of Botany Asa Gray

British Dictionary definitions for suffruticose

suffruticose

/səˈfruːtɪˌkəʊz/

adjective

(of a plant) having a permanent woody base and herbaceous branches

Word Origin

C18: from New Latin suffruticōsus, from Latin sub- + frutex a shrub

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cite This Source

Discover our greatest slideshows

Browse more topics on our blog

What Is the Difference Between Discreet and Discrete?
Learn the correct uses of these two commonly confused homophones.
What Character Was Removed from the Alphabet?
What mistaken pronunciation gave this character its name?
Apostrophes 101
This small mark has two primary uses: to signify possession or omitted letters.
How Do I Get a Word into the Dictionary?
People invent new words all the time, but which ones actually make it?

suffruticose

suffruticose

Discover our greatest slideshows

Six words that can ruin your...

10 Of The Saddest Words (Or...

The Oldest Words In The English...

10 Words That Will Show Your Age

Browse more topics on our blog

Word of the Day

Nearby words for suffruticose

Word Value for suffruticose