-anthous

1. a combining form meaning “having flowers,” of the type or number specified by the initial element, used in the formation of compound words:

   monanthous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -anthous¹

< Greek ánth ( os ) flower + -ous

Words That Use -Anthous

What does -anthous mean?

The combining form -anthous is used like a suffix meaning “having flowers.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany.

The combining form -anthous comes from Greek ánthos, meaning “flower.” This Greek root is combined with the suffix -ous, which means “possessing, full of,” from Latin -ōsus. The Latin equivalent of -anthous is -florous, as in uniflorous. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for flor- and flori-.

The botanical terms chrysanthemum, helianthus, and polyanthus are also related to the Greek root ánthos. Find out more at our entries for chrysanthemum, helianthus, and polyanthus.

Corresponding forms of -anthous combined to the beginning of words is antho- and anth-. Learn more at our Words That Use articles for the forms.

Examples of -anthous

An example of a term from botany that features the combining form -anthous is rhizanthous, “bearing flowers directly from the root.”

The combining form rhiz- means “root,” from Greek rhíza. As we know, -anthous means “having flowers,” and therefore, rhizanthous literally means “having root flowers.”

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

• ananthous (using the equivalent form of -anthous in Greek)
• gymnanthous
• isanthous (using the equivalent form of -anthous in Latin)
• monanthous (using the equivalent form of -anthous in Latin)

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

• -androus
• -anthrope
• -gnathous

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -anthous, such as xanthous, is necessarily using the combining form -anthous to denote “flowers.” Learn why xanthous means “yellow” at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form gymn- means “naked” or “exposed.” With this in mind, what are the characteristics of a gymnanthous plant?