deutero-

Deutero- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “second.” It is used in some technical terms, especially in biology.

Deutero- comes from the Greek deúteros, meaning “second.”

What are variants of deutero-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, deutero- becomes deuter-, as in deuteranopia.

Shortened forms of deutero- are deuto-, as in deutoplasm, and deut-, as in deutoxide.

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament of the Bible. It’s written in the form of Moses reiterating laws for the Israelites, including the Ten Commandments.

The deutero- part of the word means “second.” The -nomy part of the word comes from the Greek for “law.” Deuteronomy literally translates to “second law”—that is, as a second statement (copy) of Mosaic law.

The word Deuteronomy comes from the Greek Deuteronómion, which uses the equivalent form of deutero- in the language.

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

• deuterocanonical
• deuterogamy (using the equivalent form of deutero- in Greek)
• deuteromycete (fusing the equivalent form of deutero- in New Latin)
• deuteropathy
• deuteroplasm
• deuterostome
• deuterotoky

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

• di-
• dermato-
• dodeca-
• duo-
• neutro-

Deuterogamy, also known as digamy, is a term for getting married after the death of or divorce from a first spouse.

Given that -gamy here means “marriage,” what does deuterogamy literally translate to?