-opsis

American  

1. a combining form meaning “likeness,” used especially in the names of living organisms and organic structures that resemble the thing named by the initial element.

   coreopsis.

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-opsis British  

combining form

1. indicating a specified appearance or resemblance

   meconopsis

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Usage

What does -opsis mean? The combining form -opsis is used like a suffix meaning “likeness” or "resemblance." It is rarely used in scientific terms, especially in medicine.The form -opsis comes from Greek ópsis, meaning “appearance” and “sight.” Related to ópsis are ophthalmós, “eye,” which gives us the combining form ophthalmo-, as well as ṓps, “eye” or “face,” which is the root of combining forms such as opto-, -opia, and -opsia. The Latin cognate of ópsis, ophthalmo-, and ṓps is oculus, “eye,” the source of the combining form oculo- and the noun monocle. Learn more at our entries for each word.What are variants of -opsis?While -opsy is not a variant of -opsis, the two combining forms have a common origin. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -opsy.

Etymology

Origin of -opsis

From the Greek word ópsis appearance, sight