-spermal

American  

1. a combining form used to form adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -sperm:

   gymnospermal.

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Usage

What does -spermal mean? The combining form -spermal is used like a suffix to mean “of or relating to one who has seeds." It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany.The form -spermal ultimately comes from Greek spérma, meaning “sperm” or “seed.” This form in English is combined with the suffix -al, from Latin ālis, meaning "pertaining to."What are variants of -spermal?A more common variant of -spermal is -spermous, as in gymnospermous; another variant is -spermic, as in endospermic.The related form -sperm is used for nouns instead of adjectives.The forms sperm-, spermato-, and spermo- are also combining forms from Greek spérma that are variously used like prefixes to mean "sperm" or "seed."Want to learn more? Check out our Words That Use entries for each of these seven forms.

Etymology

Origin of -spermal

-sperm + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The result, says Koestler, is that a large number of Hindu men "suffer from what one might call spermal anxiety."

From Time Magazine Archive