-gony

1. a combining form meaning “production,” “genesis,” “origination,” used in the formation of compound words:

   theogony; cosmogony.

-gony

combining form

1. genesis, origin, or production

   cosmogony

Word History and Origins

Origin of -gony¹

< Latin -gonia < Greek -goneia, equivalent to gón ( os ) ( gon- ) + -eia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of -gony¹

from Latin -gonia, from Greek, -goneia, from gonos seed, procreation

Example Sentences

Now the Leaflanders were quite too well-bred ever to have used or heard so barbarous a word as “gony.”

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -gony

What does -gony mean?

The combining form -gony is used like a suffix meaning “production,” “genesis,” or “origination.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

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

Examples of -gony

An example of a scientific term that features the form -gony is heterogony, “the alternation of dioecious and hermaphroditic individuals in successive generations, as in certain nematodes.” If that sounds overly technical, breaking down the word will give a clearer understanding of the meaning.

The form hetero- might look familiar; it means “different” or “other,” from Greek héteros. The form -gony means “production” or “origination,” as we have seen. Heterogony literally translates to “different productions.”

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

• cosmogony (using the equivalent form of -gony in Greek)
• merogony
• schizogony
• sporogony
• telegony

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

• -gamy
• -gon
• -gonium

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -gony, such as jargony or agony, is necessarily using the combining form -gony to denote “production.” Learn why agony means “pain” at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form cosmo- means “universe.” With this in mind, what does cosmogony literally mean?