steno

Steno- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “narrow” or “close.”  It is used in a variety of medical, scientific, and other technical terms, especially in biology.

Steno- comes from the Greek stenós, meaning “narrow.”

An example of a word you may have encountered that features the combining form steno- is stenography, “the act of writing in shorthand.”

Shorthand is a method of rapid handwriting using simple strokes, abbreviations, or symbols that designate letters, words, or phrases. A person who specializes in taking dictation in shorthand, such as in court, is a stenographer.

Stenographer and stenography are sometimes referred to as steno for short.

As we have seen, steno- literally means “narrow,” here implying “short” or “contracted” writing (as opposed to longhand). What about -graphy? That’s right, it denotes a process or form of writing. Stenography literally translates to “narrow writing.”

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

• stenobathic
• stenocardia
• stenocephaly
• stenohaline
• stenopetalous
• stenophagous
• stenophyllous
• stenostomia
• stenothermal
• stenothorax
• stenotopic
• stenosis (using the equivalent form of steno- in Greek)
• stenoxenous

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

• stego-
• stereo-
• sterno-
• stetho-

The combining form -phagous means “eating” or “feeding on.” Based on the meaning of steno-, does a stenophagous organism feed on a wide variety of foods?