EUGENE M. MCCARTHY, PHD
-rachidia [Greek rachis spine] Denotes a condition of the spine of the kind indicated by the stem or prefix (atelorachidia) — usually refers to the vertebral column, but can also refer to a spine of any kind, as the spine of a leaf.
-rhine or -rrhine [Greek rhis nose or snout] One having a nose or snout of the sort indicated by the stem or prefix (catarrhine).
-rhiza or -rrhiza [Greek rhiza root] Root; like or connected to a root (Cotylorhiza tuberculata).
-rhynchus [Greek rhynchos beak, snout] In taxonomic names: one(s) having a beak or snout of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (Platyrhynchos).
-rrhage or -rrhagia [Greek rhegnumi to break asunder, rend] Excessive or abnormal flow or outflow (hemorrhage).
-rrhaphy [Greek rhaphe stitching, sewing] Suturing or stitching (angiorrhaphy).
-rrhea (British: -rrhoea) [Greek rein flow] Denotes a flow or outflow (dacryorrhea).
-rrhexis [Greek rhegma a breakage or fracture] Rupture, splitting (ovariorrhexis).
-rrhine See: -rhine.
-rrhiza See: -rhiza.
-sarc [Greek sarx flesh] Flesh, soft tissue (ectosarc, endosarc).
-saur or -saura or -sauria or -saurus [Greek saura lizard] Lizard; animals like lizards (dinosaur).
-schisis [Greek schizein to split or cleave] Fissure, breaking up (gastroschisis).
-sclerosis [Greek skleros hard] Drying, hardness (arteriosclerosis).
-scope [Greek skopein to examine] A means for viewing (microscope).
-scopic [Greek skopein to examine] Pertaining to a visual examination of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (endoscopic).
-scopy [Greek skopein to examine] Seeing, visual examination of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (microscopy).
-setose or -setous [Latin saeta hair, bristle] Having bristles of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (bisetose).
-sion See: -ion.
-sis [Greek -sis an ending indicating a state or condition] Denotes a condition. See: -iasis, -osis, -basia/-basis, -biosis, -clasia/-clasis, -genesis, -gnosis, -kinesis, -stasia/-stasis, -stomosis.
-soma (pl -somata) [Greek soma body] In taxonomic names: one(s) having a body (or region of a body) of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (Trypanosoma).
-some [Greek soma body] (1) chromosome; (2) region of a body; (3) a body of the type indicated by the root or prefix (liposome, lysosome, melanosome).
-spasm [Greek spasmos convulsion] Twitching, or involuntary contraction, of the thing indicated by the stem or prefix (chirospasm).
-sperma or -spermum [Greek sperma seed, semen, race, origin] In taxonomic names: one(s) having seeds of a certain type or number (Pterospermum).
-spermal or -spermous [Greek sperma seed, semen, race, origin] Having seeds of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (tetraspermous).
-spermy (pl spermies) [Greek sperma seed, semen, race, origin] Having seeds of a certain type or number (polyspermy).
-spora [Greek sporos sowing, seed, offspring, semen] In taxonomic names: Having spores of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (Neurospora).
-spore [Greek sporos sowing, seed, offspring, semen] Seed, spore (ascospore).
-sporic (also -sporous) [Greek sporos sowing, seed, offspring, semen] Having spores of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (ascosporic).
-sporium [Greek sporos sowing, seed, offspring, semen] (1) layer of a spore wall (exosporium); (2) in taxonomic names: Having spores of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (Cladosporium).
-spory (pl -spories) [Greek sporos sowing, seed, offspring, semen] Condition of having spores of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (heterospory).
-stasia or -stasis [Greek stasis condition of standing] (1) slowing, stoppage; (2) inhibition of growth (homeostasis); (3) a condition while standing of the sort indicated by the stem or prefix (astasia).
-stat [Greek -states something causing stasis] (1) tool for keeping something stable or controlled (hemostat); (2) agent inhibiting growth (bacteriostat).
-stega or -stege [Greek stege roof] In taxonomic names: Covering plate or layer (Ichthyostega).
-stemonous [Greek stemon warp, thread] Having stamens of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (diplostemonous).
-stomate or -stomatous [Greek stoma, stomat- mouth] Having a mouth of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (cyclostomate).
-stome [Greek stoma, stomat- mouth] One with a mouth of the sort indicated by the stem or prefix (deuterostome).
-stomosis or -stomy [Greek stoma, stomat- mouth] Condition of providing with or having an outlet (anastomosis).
-stylous [style + -ous] Having styles of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (macrostylous).
-styly [style + -y] Condition of having styles of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (homostyly).