-saurus
Translingual
Etymology
From Ancient Greek σαῦρος (saûros, “lizard, reptile”). The broader use, which has become standard especially for dinosaurs, follows some of the earliest non-avian dinosaur genera to be named, particularly Megalosaurus (literally “giant lizard”).
Suffix
-saurus m (feminine -saura, neuter -saurum)
- Forms genus names of lizards.
- Forms genus names of dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs, mosasaurs, and other large extinct reptiles.
Derived terms
Translingual terms suffixed with -saurus
Related terms
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Ancient Greek σαῦρος (saûros, “lizard, reptile”), inspired by its use in taxonomic names for dinosaurs.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsɔːɹəs/
- Rhymes: -ɔːɹəs
Suffix
-saurus (plural -sauruses or -sauri)
- Forms names for real or imaginary dinosaurs.
Derived terms
English terms suffixed with -saurus