-phagous

American  

1. a combining form meaning “eating,” “feeding on,” “devouring” that specified by the initial element.

   creophagous; hylophagous; rhizophagous.

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Usage

What does -phagous mean? The combining form -phagous is used like a suffix meaning “eating,” “feeding on,” or “devouring” a thing specified by the first part of the word. It is used in many scientific and other technical terms, especially in biology. The form -phagous ultimately comes from the Greek phageîn, meaning “to eat, devour.” This Greek root also helps form the word esophagus. Discover the connection at our entry for the word. The form -phagous is often used as an adjective form of words ending in the related -phagy or -phagia. Also closely related to -phagous is -phage, and a corresponding form of -phagous combined to the beginning of words is phago-. Eat up all the specific details at our Words That Use articles for these forms.

Etymology

Origin of -phagous

< Greek -phagos, adj. derivative of phágein to eat; -ous