-stomous

American  

1. a combining form meaning “having a mouth” of the kind or number specified by the initial element.

   monostomous.

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-stomous British  

combining form

1. having a specified type of mouth

   monostomous

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Usage

What does -stomous mean? The combining form -stomous is used like a suffix meaning “having a mouth or opening.” The first element of words containing -stomous specify the kind or number of mouths or openings the organism has. It is used in a few, rare, obsolete scientific terms, especially in biology and zoology.The form -stomous comes from the Greek stóma, meaning “mouth.” This root is the source of the English word stoma (a technical term for a mouth, among other senses) and is related to stomach. Stomach? Our stomachs and mouths are certainly connected—and etymologically so, too. Discover the connection at our entry for the word.Closely related to -stomous are -stome and -stomy. Corresponding forms of -stomous combined to the beginning of words are stomato- and stomat-. Learn more about the specific applications of these forms at our Words That Use articles for them.

Etymology

Origin of -stomous

< Greek -stomos -mouthed, adj. derivative of stóma mouth; -stome, -ous