-agogue

American  

Also -agog

1. a combining form with the meaning “leader, bringer,” of that named by the initial element, occurring in loanwords from Greek (demagogue; pedagogue ); used also in medical terms that denote substances inducing the expulsion or secretion of that named by the initial element (cholagogue; hemagogue ).

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-agogue British  

combining form

1. indicating a person or thing that leads or incites to action

   pedagogue

   demagogue

2. denoting a substance that stimulates the secretion of something

   galactagogue

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Usage

What does -agogue mean? The combining form -agogue is used like a suffix meaning “leader” or "bringer." In medical terms, it is used to name substances that cause the flow or the release of a substance. It is occasionally used in scientific and technical terms.The form -agogue comes from Greek -agōgos, meaning “leading.” The Latin cognate of this form is agēns, “doing” or “driving,” which is the source of words such as agent and agency. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.What are variants of -agogue?A less-common variant of -agogue is -agog, as in hydragog. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -agog.

Other Word Forms

• -agogic combining form
• -agogy combining form

Etymology

Origin of -agogue

From Greek -agōgos, -ē, -on, akin to ágein “to lead,” cognate with Latin agere “to lead, drive,” Old Norse aka “to carry, convey”

Example Sentences

Helminth′agogue, a remedy against worms.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg