-dactylous

American  

1. a combining form meaning “fingered, possessing fingers,” or “toed, possessing toes,” used to form compound words in which the initial element specifies the type or number of fingers or toes.

   tridactylous.

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Usage

What does -dactylous mean? The combining form -dactylous is used like a suffix with two related meanings. Depending on the context, it can mean "fingered, possessing fingers" or "toed, possessing toes." Essentially, -dactylous means "having digits." It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy and zoology.The form -dactylous comes from Greek dáktylos, meaning “finger” or “toe,” combined with -ous, a suffix used to create adjectives from nouns, from Latin -ōsus, “full of.” In poetry, the metrical foot known as a dactyl also derives from this same Greek root. Learn more at our entry for dactyl.What are variants of -dactylous?When combined with words or word elements especially to form a noun, -dactylous becomes -dactyl, as in didactyl.While not a variant of -dactylous, -dactyly is also related to this form. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for these combining forms.

Etymology

Origin of -dactylous

< Greek -daktylos, adj. derivative of dáktylos finger, toe; -ous