ligni-

1. a combining form meaning “wood,” used in the formation of compound words:

   ligniform.

ligni-

combining_form

1. indicating wood

   lignocellulose

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligni-¹

< Latin, combining form representing lignum wood

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligni-¹

from Latin lignum wood

Example Sentences

Ingil is Ligni, or the Count de Ligny, the French military chief.

From Literature

“Ideo confiteor tibi Domine Deus meus, qui solus sine peccato es: et obsecro te, Jesu Christe, Deus misericordiarum per passionem et per effusionem sanguinis tui, atque per signum ligni salutiferi crucis tuae ut concedas mihi remissionem omnium peccatorum meorum, non secundum meum meritum, sed secundum magnam misericordiam tuam”.

From Project Gutenberg

Ligni�res has observed a kind of multiple fission in the stomach, several very minute bodies, consisting mostly of chromatin, being formed, which may serve for endogenous reproduction.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter is thus described in the Register: 'Calendarium ligneum, tam materia quam usu perpetuum, unius ligni quadrati angulis incisum, more antiquo.'

From Project Gutenberg

In Niort, a sleepy town in west central France, Dr. Alain de Ligni�res took a hard look at the phenomenon.

From Time Magazine Archive

Words That Use ligni-

What does ligni- mean?

Ligni– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “wood.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Ligni– comes from Latin lignum, meaning “wood.” A Greek translation is hȳ́lē, meaning “wood” or “matter,” as in the substance of the universe, source of the combining form hylo–. Another Greek-based combining form meaning “wood” is xylo–. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article on the forms.

What are variants of ligni-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, ligni– becomes lign–, as in lignin. In some instances, ligni– becomes ligno–, as in lignocellulose. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on lign– and ligno-.

Examples of ligni-

An example of a scientific term that features the form ligni– is ligniform, “having the form of wood.”

We know ligni– means “wood,” and the –form portion of the word refers to “having the form of,” from Latin –fōrmis. Ligniform literally translates to “having the form of wood.”

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

• lignicolous
• lignify
• lignivorous

What are some other forms that ligni– may be commonly confused with?

• glio-
• linguo-
• -ling

Break it down!

The combining form –vorous means “eating.” With this in mind, what does lignivorous literally mean?