apterygous
|ap-ter-y-gous|
/æpˈtɛrɪɡəs/
without wings
Etymology
'apterygous' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apterygos', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and 'pteryx' (or 'pteryg-') meant 'wing'.
'apterygous' came from Greek 'apterygos' and entered scientific English via New Latin usage; the form and meaning have been preserved in technical contexts.
Initially, it meant 'without wings' in the original Greek, and over time it has retained that core meaning in English scientific usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
without wings; wingless (used especially in zoology and botany to describe organisms or organs lacking wings).
Many island insects are apterygous because flight is unnecessary and can be a disadvantage.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/30 10:58