gonium

¹

[ goh-nee-uhm ]

noun

, Cell Biology.

, plural go·ni·a [goh, -nee-, uh].

1. the germ cell during the phase marked by mitosis.

-gonium

²

1. a combining form of gonium:

   archegonium.

-gonium

combining form

1. indicating a seed or reproductive cell

   archegonium

Word History and Origins

Origin of gonium¹

From New Latin; gon-, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of gonium¹

from New Latin gonium, from Greek gonos seed

Example Sentences

This dust-like appearance consists nearly exclusively of species of the most beautiful colors, such as Pandorina, Gonium, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

My mind swept back over evolution from star-dust to Kartabo compound, from Gonium to man, and to these leaf-cutting ants.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -gonium

What does -gonium mean?

The combining form -gonium is used like a suffix meaning “gonium,” meaning “the germ cell during the phase marked by mitosis.” The form -gonium is also used more generally to mean “seed” or “reproductive cell.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The form -gonium comes from Greek gónos, meaning “seed, generation.”

Examples of -gonium

One example of a scientific term that features the form -gonium is ascogonium, “the female sexual organ in certain ascomycetous fungi.”

The asco- part of the word means “sac,” from Greek askós. The -gonium part of the word means “reproductive cell” or “seed.” Ascogonium literally translates to “reproductive cell sac.”

What are some words that use the equivalent of the combining form -gonium in Latin?

• archegonium
• hormogonium
• oogonium
• spermagonium

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

• -gamy
• -gon
• -gony

Break it down!

The combining form oo- means “egg.” With this in mind, what does oogonium literally mean?