-o-

suffix the terminal vowel of combining forms (spectro-; chemico-; Franco-).
Usage:
Often elided before a vowel, as in neuralgia.
Etymology: orig. Gk

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Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, from Greek, thematic vowel of many nouns and adjectives in combination

— used as a connective vowel originally to join two elements of Greek origin and now also to join two elements of Latin or other origin and being either identical with

chrysoprase

or analogous to

Anglo-Saxon

an original Greek stem vowel or simply inserted

jazzophile

dramatico-musical

— compare -i-

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the typical ending of the first element of compounds of Greek origin (as -i- is, in compounds of Latin origin), used regularly in forming new compounds with elements of Greek origin and often used in English as a connective irrespective of etymology: Franco-Italian; geography; seriocomic; speedometer. Cf. -i-.

[ME ( < OF) < L < Gk]

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suffix used as the terminal vowel of combining forms

chemico- | Gallo-

Origin:

from Greek

••

Usage

The combining-form suffix -o- is often elided (that is, omitted) before a vowel, as in neuralgia (formed from neuro- + -algia)