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The combining form -spermous is used like a suffix to mean “of or relating to one who has seeds.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany.

The form -spermous ultimately comes from the Greek ����é������, meaning “sperm” or “seed.” This root is combined with the suffix -ous, from the Latin -ō���ܲ�, meaning “possessing, full of” a given quality.

What are variants of –spermous?

A less common variant of -spermous is -spermal, as in angiospermal. Another variant of -spermous is -spermic, as in endospermic.

The related form -sperm is used for nouns instead of adjectives.

The forms sperm-, spermato-, and spermo- are also combining forms from Greek ����é������ that are variously used like prefixes to mean “sperm” or “seed.”

Want to learn more? Check out our 51�Թ�s That Use entries for each of these seven forms.

One example of a term from botany that features the combining form -spermous is dispermous, meaning “having two seeds.”

The combining form di- has a variety of meanings, including “two.” As we know, -spermous means “one who has seeds,” and dispermous literally translates to “one who has two seeds.”

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

• angiospermous
• gymnospermous (using the equivalent form of -spermous in Greek)
• melanospermous
• monospermous (using the equivalent form of -spermous in Latin)
• trispermous

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

• -merous

The combining form tri- means “three.” With this in mind, what does trispermous mean?