gyne-

The combining form gyne- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “woman,” “female.” It is used in a few scientific terms. Similarly, the combining form -gyne is used like a suffix meaning “female reproductive organ.” It is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany.

The forms gyne- and -gyne ultimately come from Greek �����ḗ, meaning “woman,” among other related senses.

������ are variants of gyne-?

The form gyne- is a variant of gyneco-, which has a number of other variants. When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, gyneco- becomes gynec-, as in gynecic. In British English, gyneco- is chiefly spelled gynaeco-, as in gynaecology. The combining forms gyno- and gyn- are also variants of gyneco-.

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While -gyne doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the suffixes -gynous and -gyny. Learn about their overlap and distinctions in the Words That Use articles for each form.

As you can see, Greek �����ḗ has proven to be very productive in English.

One of the few words that features the form gyne- is gynephobia, “an abnormal or irrational fear of women.”

The gyne- part of the word means “woman,” while the form -phobia might also seem familiar; it means “fear,” from Greek phobos. Gynephobia literally translates to “fear of women.”

������ are some other forms that gyne- may be commonly confused with?

• glyco-
• gono-
• gymno-
• gyro-

Break it down!

The combining form -(o)cracy means “rule” or “government.” With this in mind, what is a gyneocracy?

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One example of a scientific term that features the form -gyne is trichogyne, “a hairlike prolongation of a carpogonium, serving as a receptive organ for the spermatium.” In other words, a trichogyne is a part of the reproductive system of some plants or fungi.

The first part of the word, tricho-, means “hair,” from Greek �ٳ��í��, while the -gyne part of the word means “female reproductive organ.” Trichogyne literally translates to “hair(y) female reproductive organ.”

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

• androgyne (using the equivalent form of -gyne in Greek)
• epigyne

������ are some other forms that -gyne may be commonly confused with?

• -gamy
• -genous
• -geny
• -gyny

Break it down!

The combining form epi- means “over” or “above.” With this in mind, what part of a female spider is covered by the epigyne, also known as the epigynum?