apomorphic

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Hellenic *apó
Ancient Greek ᾰ̓πό (ăpó)
Ancient Greek ᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-)bor.
English apo-
Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ)bor.
English -morphy
English apomorphy
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Indo-European *-ikos
Proto-Italic *-ikos
Latin -icuslbor.
Old French -iquebor.
▲
Latin -icusbor.
Middle English -ik
English -ic
English apomorphic

    From apomorphy + -ic.

    Adjective

    apomorphic (comparative more apomorphic, superlative most apomorphic)

    1. (taxonomy) Of a characteristic, distinguishing an organism or taxon from others that share the same ancestor.
      Coordinate term: plesiomorphic
      The possession of cilia is an apomorphic trait of this family.
    2. (taxonomy) Of a taxon, distinguished by such characteristics.
      The genus is highly apomorphic.

    Derived terms

    • anapomorphic

    Translations

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