hylo-

Hylo– is a combining form used like a prefix. In terms from biology, hylo– typically is used to mean “wood.” In terms from philosophy, hylo– typically is used to mean “matter.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Hylo– comes from Greek ���̄́��ŧ, meaning “wood” or “matter,” as in the substance of the universe. Another Greek-based combining form meaning “wood” is xylo–, which you can learn more about in our Words That Use article on the form.

The Latin translation of Greek ���̄́��ŧ is lignum, meaning “wood.” To learn more, check out our Words That Use article on the combining forms lign–, ligni–, and ligno–.

One example of a scientific term that features the form hylo– is hylophagous, also known as xylophagous, meaning “feeding on wood.”

The hylo– part of the word here refers to “wood.” The second portion of the word, –phagous, means “eating,” “feeding on,” or “devouring.” Hylophagous literally translates to “eating wood.”

������ are some words that use the combining form hylo-?

• hylomorphic
• hylomorphism
• hylotheism
• hylotropic
• hylozoism

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

• hydro-
• hydroxy-
• xylo-

The combining form –morphism means “the state of having a shape, form, or structure.” With this in mind, what does the philosophical term hylomorphism mean?