crystalli-

1. variant of crystallo- before an element of Latin origin:

   crystalliferous.

Example Sentences

He discovered double refraction in Iceland spar (Experimenta crystalli islandici disdiaclastici, Copenhagen, 1669).

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use crystalli-

What does crystalli- mean?

Crystalli- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “crystal.” It is used in some scientific terms, especially in geology and mineralogy.

Crystalli- comes from the Greek krýstallos, meaning “clear ice, rock crystal,” source of the word crystal, as you may have guessed.

But did you guess the following? The Greek krýstallos is related to krýos, meaning “ice cold” or “frost” and source of the combining form cryo-. Learn more in our Words That Use cryo- article.

Crystalli- is a variant of crystallo- before a word element that is of Latin origin. Crystall- is another variant of crystallo-.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use crystallo- and crystalli- articles.

Examples of crystalli-

One example of word that uses crystalli- is crystalliferous, meaning “bearing, containing, or yielding crystals.”

The first part of the word, crystalli-, means “crystal,” as we know. The second part of the word, -ferous, variously means “bearing,” “producing,” “yielding,” “containing,” “conveying.” So, crystalliferous literally translates to “crystal-bearing.” We think this word is … splendiferous!

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

• crystalligerous

Note that some etymologists break down crystalliferous and crystalligerous as a blend of crystal with -iferous and -igerous, respectively.

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

• chryso-
• cryo-
• cyano-

Break it down!

Crystalligerous is a rare term used to describe spores or cells that contain (–gerous) what substance?