-phyllous

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

   diphyllous; monophyllous.

-phyllous

combining form

1. having leaves of a specified number or type

   monophyllous

Word History and Origins

Origin of -phyllous¹

< Greek -phyllos, derivative of phýllon leaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of -phyllous¹

from Greek -phullos of a leaf

Words That Use -phyllous

What does -phyllous mean?

The combining form –phyllous is used like a suffix meaning “having leaves.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The form –phyllous ultimately comes from Greek phýllon, meaning “leaf.” The Latin cognate of phýllon is folium, also meaning “leaf,” which is the source of words such as foil, foliage, and folio. To learn more, check out our entries for these three terms.

Closely related to –phyllous are the combining forms phyllo–, phyll–, and –phyll, which you can learn more about in our Words That Use articles on the forms.

Examples of -phyllous

A scientific term that uses the form –phyllous is stenophyllous, “having narrow leaves.”

The steno– part of the word means “narrow,” from Greek stenós. The –phyllous part of the word means “having leaves,” as we know. Stenophyllous literally translates to “having narrow leaves.”

What are some words that use the combining form –phyllous?

• gamophyllous
• heterophyllous
• malacophyllous
• monophyllous (using the equivalent form of –phyllous in Greek)
• sclerophyllous

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

• -philous

Break it down!

The combining form mono– means “single” or “one.” With this in mind, what does monophyllous literally mean?