-gnathous

American  

1. a combining form meaning “having a jaw” of the kind or in the position specified by the initial element.

   prognathous.

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-gnathous British  

combining form

1. indicating or having a jaw of a specified kind

   prognathous

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Usage

What does -gnathous mean? The combining form -gnathous is used like a suffix meaning “having a jaw.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in zoology.The form -gnathous comes from the Greek gnáthos, meaning “jaw.” Despite the similarity in spelling between -gnathous and the verb gnash, “to grind or strike (the teeth) together,” the two terms are unrelated.The term Agnatha, which refers to "the class of vertebrates comprising the lampreys, hagfishes, and several extinct forms, having no jaws or paired appendages," comes from a Latin equivalent of this word. Find out more at our entry for Agnatha.

Etymology

Origin of -gnathous

< Greek -gnathos -jawed, adj. derivative of gnáthos jaw (akin to chin ); -ous