-phyte

1. variant of phyto- as final element of compound words:

   lithophyte.

-phyte

combining form

1. indicating a plant of a specified type or habitat

   lithophyte

   thallophyte

Derived Forms

• -phytic, combining_form:in_adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of -phyte¹

from Greek phuton plant

Example Sentences

A zo”phyte of the order Alcyonaria.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not true that evolutionists expect to find, as Dr. Seelye has affirmed, “the growth of the highest alga into a zo�phyte, a phenomenon for which sharp eyes have sought, and which is not only natural but inevitable on the Darwinian hypothesis, and whose discovery would make the fame of any observer.”

From Project Gutenberg

It would be the lowest alga, to use Dr. Seelye’s illustration, which would be transmutable into the lowest zo�phyte.

From Project Gutenberg

After casting a grim look around the room, without seeing Enrique, or apparently not seeing him, he uttered several grunts, staggered toward the counter, and fixing his vitreous, angry eye on the polished silk hat which the lieutenant had laid on it, he picked it up gingerly in his monstrous hands, examined it curiously, like a naturalist who has just stumbled upon some new zo�phyte, while something that tried to be a smile, but succeeded in being only a horrible grimace, vexed his thick, livid lips.

From Project Gutenberg

I am thankful that the neo- phyte will be benefited by experience, although it will cost him much, and in proportion to its worth.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -phyte

What does -phyte mean?

The combining form -phyte is used like a suffix meaning “plant.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and botany.

The combining form –phyte comes from the Greek phytón, meaning “plant.” The Greek phytón also helps form the word neóphytos, source of the word neophyte, a “beginner” or “novice.” Neophyte literally means “newly planted” and originally referred to a newly baptized Christian.

The corresponding form of -phyte combined to the beginning of words is phyto-.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use phyto- article.

Examples of -phyte

One example of a scientific term that features the combining form -phyte is macrophyte. A macrophyte is “a plant, especially a marine plant, large enough to be visible to the naked eye.”

You might be familiar with the combining form macro-, which means “large,” among other senses. As we have seen, -phyte means “plant.” Macrophyte, then, literally translates to “large plant.”

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

• aerophyte
• cormophyte
• ectophyte
• endophyte
• epiphyte
• hygrophyte
• microphyte
• geophyte
• sciophyte
• zoophyte (ultimately from the equivalent form of -phyte in Greek)

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

• -phyll
• photo-
• phyco-
• phylo-
• psycho-
• pyelo-

Break it down!

The opposite of macro- is micro-, meaning “small.” With this in mind, what does microphyte literally translate to?