epigeous
|ep-i-ge-ous|
/ˌɛpɪˈdʒiəs/
on the earth's surface
Etymology
'epigeous' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'epigeios', where 'epi-' meant 'upon' and 'ge' meant 'earth'.
'epigeios' was taken into New Latin as 'epigeus' and then entered English as 'epigeous', preserving the sense related to the earth's surface.
Initially it meant 'upon the earth' in a general geographical sense, but over time it became specialized in biology to mean 'growing or occurring on the earth's surface.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
growing on or occurring at the surface of the earth; living or produced above ground (used especially in botany and mycology).
Many desert plants are epigeous, producing leaves and flowers above the soil surface.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/30 22:49