anhistous
|an-his-tous|
/ænˈhɪstəs/
without true tissue structure
Etymology
'anhistous' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'an-' meaning 'without' and 'histos' meaning 'web; tissue', with the adjectival suffix '-ous'.
'anhistous' was formed in scientific English (19th century) from New Latin combining forms 'an-' and 'histo-' (from Greek 'histos') and eventually became the modern English word 'anhistous'.
Initially, it meant 'without tissues or tissue differentiation', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having no distinct or true tissues; lacking tissue differentiation (especially in lower plants such as algae and fungi).
Some algae are considered anhistous because their cells are not organized into true tissues.
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Adjective 2
in embryology or zoology: not yet organized into specialized tissues during an early developmental stage.
The early embryo remains anhistous before organ primordia form.
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Last updated: 2025/08/11 01:22