-adelphous

Botany.

1. a combining form meaning “having stamens growing together in bundles,” of the number specified by the initial element:

   monadelphous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -adelphous¹

< New Latin < Greek -adelphos, adj. derivative of adelphós brother or adelphḗ sister; -ous

Example Sentences

Indeed, in one settlement I came across two brothers, who had for this reason resorted to the adelphous form of polyandry.

From Project Gutenberg

Adelphous (stamens), joined in a fraternity (adelphia); see monadelphous, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -adelphous

What does -adelphous mean?

The combining form -adelphous is used like a suffix meaning “having stamens growing together in bundles.” Stamens are the pollen-bearing organ of a flower. The form -adelphous is rarely used in scientific terms, particularly in botany.

The form -adelphous comes from Greek adelphós, meaning “brother.” This same root is also found in the name of the city Philadelphia, “the city of brotherly love.” Find out more at our entry for Philadelphia.

Examples of -adelphous

An example of a term from botany that features the form -adelphous is monadelphous, “united into one bundle or set by their filaments.”

The form mon- means “alone” or “single,” from Greek mónos, while -adelphous means “having stamens growing together in bundles.” Monadelphous literally means “having stamens growing together in a single bundle.”

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

• diadelphous
• triadelphous

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

• -aceous
• -phagous
• -philious

Break it down!

The combining form di- means “two.” With this in mind, what does the botanical term diadelphous mean?