-dactyly

The combining form -dactyly is used like a suffix with two related meanings. Depending on the context, it can mean “the condition of being fingered, possessing fingers” or “the condition of toed, possessing toes.” Essentially, -dactyly means “the condition of having digits.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy and zoology.

The form -dactyly comes from Greek ��á��ٲ���Dz�, meaning “finger” or “toe.” This is combined with the suffix -y, from Greek -ia, which has various uses, including in the formation of abstract nouns. In poetry, the metrical foot known as a dactyl also derives from this same Greek root. Learn more at our entry for dactyl.

������ are variants of –dactyly?

The form –dactyly does not have any variants, but it is related to the forms -dactylous, as in tetradactylous, and -dactyl, as in tridactyl. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for these combining forms.

A scientific term that features the form -dactyly is monodactyly, “the presence of a single finger on the hand or a single toe on the foot.”

The form mono- means “alone, single, one,” from Greek ��ó�ԴDz�. The form -dactyly means “the condition of possessing digits.” Monodactyly literally translates to “the condition of having a single digit.”

������ are some words that use the combining form –dactyly?

• anisodactyly
• bidactyly
• clinodactyly
• ectrodactyly
• syndactyly

������ are some other forms that –dactyly may be commonly confused with?

• -dynia

The combining form bi- means “two.” With this in mind, what does bidactyly mean?