caco-

a combining form meaning “bad,” occurring in loanwords from Greek (cacodemon); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (cacogenics).

Nearby words

cack-handed, cackermander, cackle, cackleberry, cacky, caco-, cacodemon, cacodyl, cacodyl group, cacodylate, cacodylic

Also especially before a vowel, cac-.

Origin of caco-

< Greek, combining form of kakós

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for caco-

caco-

combining form

bad, unpleasant, or incorrectcacophony

Word Origin for caco-

from Greek kakos bad

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for caco-

caco-

before vowels cac-, word-forming element meaning "bad, ill, poor" (e.g. cacography, the opposite of calligraphy), from Latinized form of Greek kako- a hard-working prefix in ancient Greek, from kakos "bad, evil," considered by etymologists probably to be connected with PIE *kakka- "to defecate" (see caca).

Medicine definitions for caco-

caco-

pref.

Bad:cacogeusia.