How Do You Spell PLESIOMORPHOUS?

Pronunciation: [plˈiːzɪˌɒmɔːfəs] (IPA)

Plesiomorphous (/ˌplisiˈɒmɔːfəs/) is a word that describes an organism or trait that is similar or ancestral to its evolutionary predecessor. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word breaks it down into syllables and phonemes, starting with the stress on the second syllable (ple-si-o-) and the long "o" sound in the third syllable (-mor-). The "ph" combination in the fourth syllable (/f/) represents the "f" sound, and the final syllable (-us) is pronounced with a short "u" sound.

PLESIOMORPHOUS Meaning and Definition

1. Plesiomorphous is an adjective that is used primarily in the field of evolutionary biology and taxonomy. It refers to a characteristic, trait, or feature that is ancestral or primitive and has been retained by a group of organisms or species. The term is derived from the Greek words "plesio," meaning near, and "morphe," meaning form.

   In the context of evolutionary biology, "plesiomorphous" is often used to describe a trait or character state that is shared by a group of organisms due to their common ancestry. This characteristic may have been present in an earlier common ancestor and has been retained by descendants, even if it serves no current adaptive function. For example, in mammals, the presence of five digits or fingers on the hands and five toes on the feet is considered a plesiomorphous trait, as this was a trait inherited from their common reptilian ancestor.

   Plesiomorphous traits can help scientists understand the evolutionary relationships and phylogenetic history of species. By identifying shared ancestral characters, researchers can construct evolutionary trees or cladograms that depict the evolutionary relationships between different taxa.

   It is important to note that the opposite of plesiomorphous is apomorphous, which refers to derived or advanced traits that have evolved within a particular group of organisms. An understanding of both plesiomorphous and apomorphous characteristics is crucial for accurately reconstructing the evolutionary history and relationships of species and groups.

2. Plesiomorphic.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

3. Applied to crystallised substances whose forms closely resemble each other, but are not absolutely alike.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for PLESIOMORPHOUS

• olesiomorphous
• llesiomorphous
• -lesiomorphous
• 0lesiomorphous
• pkesiomorphous
• ppesiomorphous
• poesiomorphous
• plwsiomorphous
• plssiomorphous
• pldsiomorphous
• plrsiomorphous
• pl4siomorphous
• pl3siomorphous
• pleaiomorphous
• pleziomorphous
• plexiomorphous
• plediomorphous
• pleeiomorphous
• plewiomorphous
• plesuomorphous

Etymology of PLESIOMORPHOUS

The word "plesiomorphous" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots.

First, the Greek word "plesio" (πλησίον) means "near" or "close".

Second, the Greek word "morphe" (μορφή) means "form" or "shape".

Therefore, "plesiomorphous" is formed by combining "plesio" and "morphe" to indicate something that is close or similar in form or shape.