-o-

Alternative forms

• -ö-

Adopted from Latin, ultimately of Greek origin.

In English, the connective is found from the Middle English period in direct borrowings from Latin. Direct formations of English terms with the connective, always combining Greek or Latin roots, appear from the 16th or 17th century. From the 18th century, the suffix becomes productive in compounds where the second element is English. From about 1800, formations on all sorts of stems become common.

Interfix

interfix

1. A linking vowel inserted interconsonantally between two morphemes, to ease pronunciation, without contributing to the meaning. It is frequently joins words of Ancient Greek origin but can also be used between modern terms and even abbreviations.extreme + -o- + phile producing extremophilespeed + -o- + meter producing speedometerblog + -o- + sphere producing blogosphere

Designated in the USAN guidelines for non-proprietary names of monoclonal antibodies.

Affix

interfix

1. (pharmacology) a monoclonal antibody derived from a murine source

Related terms

• -mab is the base suffix common to all monoclonal antibodies. (See that entry for full paradigm.)