-stomous

American  

1. a combining form meaning “having a mouth” of the kind or number specified by the initial element.

   monostomous.

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-stomous British  

combining form

1. having a specified type of mouth

   monostomous

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Usage

What does -stomous mean? The combining form -stomous is used like a suffix meaning “having a mouth or opening.” The first element of words containing -stomous specify the kind or number of mouths or openings the organism has. It is used in a few, rare, obsolete scientific terms, especially in biology and zoology. The form -stomous comes from the Greek stóma, meaning “mouth.” This root is the source of the English word stoma (a technical term for a mouth, among other senses) and is related to stomach. Stomach? Our stomachs and mouths are certainly connected—and etymologically so, too. Discover the connection at our entry for the word. Closely related to -stomous are -stome and -stomy. Corresponding forms of -stomous combined to the beginning of words are stomato- and stomat-. Learn more about the specific applications of these forms at our Words That Use articles for them.

Etymology

Origin of -stomous

< Greek -stomos -mouthed, adj. derivative of stóma mouth; -stome, -ous