scoto-

¹

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

   scotoma.

Scoto-

²

1. a combining form representing Scots or Scottish in compound words:

   Scoto-Irish.

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoto-¹

< Latin < Greek skoto- combining form of skótos darkness

Origin of scoto-²

Combining form of Medieval Latin Scōtus Scot

Example Sentences

I daresay you know the house, next door to La Scoto’s house on the north side of Lung’ Arno; but the rooms we inhabit are south, and look over the whole country towards the sea, so that we are entirely out of the bustle and disagreeable puzzi, etc., of the town, and hardly know that we are so enveloped until we descend into the street.

From Project Gutenberg

Lastly, among the names on Roman pottery, we have Scottus, Scoto, and Scotni, the last being a genitive, "Scotni manû."

From Project Gutenberg

Marino, con gli argomenti del conte Sanvitale, e l’allegorie di don Lorenzo Scoto.

From Project Gutenberg

I. in the British Museum: "Et in expens t misis fcis eosđ Vicetes Willo le Walleys Scoto latone predone puplico utlagato inimico et rebellione qui in contemptu Scociam se Regem Scocie falso fecāt nōiare t t ministros in tībus Scocie intfecit at duxt excercitū hostilit contra Regē judiciū Cur apud Westm distahendo suspendendo decollando ej viscera concremando ac ej corpus qarterando cuj coris quartia ad iiij majores villas Scocie tasmittebantur hoc anno.... �xj s. xd."

From Project Gutenberg

George Ellis and Murray have been talking something about Scott and me, George pro Scoto—and very right too.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use Scoto-

What does scoto- mean?

Scoto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “darkness.” It is used in medical and scientific terms.

In some instances and when spelled with a capital letter, Scoto- stands for Scots or Scottish, as in Scoto-Irish.

Scoto- comes from the Greek skótos, meaning “darkness.” This Greek root is unrelated to Scots, Scottish, and Scotland. Learn more about the origin of Scot at our entry for the word.

Examples of scoto-

One example of a term that features the combining form scoto- is scotophobia, “an irrational or disproportionate fear of the dark.”

We know scoto- means “darkness.” The second part of the word, -phobia, means “fear.” Scotophobia literally translates to “fear of darkness.”

What are some words that use or are related to the combining form scoto-?

• scotia (from the Greek skotía, “darkness”)
• scotophobin
• scotophil
• scotopia
• scotopic
• scotopic adaptation
• scotoma (using the equivalent from of scoto- in Greek)
• scotometry
• scotophase
• scotophilia

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

• scato-
• sclero-

Break it down!

The combining form -philia means “love or liking.” With this in mind, what does scotophilia literally mean?