zygote

UK /ˈzaɪɡəʊt/ · US /ˈzaɪˌɡoʊt/

Etymology Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ζῠγωτός (zŭgōtós, “yoked”) + English -ote (suffix meaning ‘having [the thing to which it is attached]’). Ζῠγωτός (Zŭgōtós) is derived from ζῠγόω (zŭgóō, “to join or yoke together”) + -τός (-tós, suffix forming adjectives of possibility); and ζῠγόω (zŭgóō) from ζῠγόν (zŭgón, “yoke for joining animals; anything which joins two things together”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *yewg- (“to tie together, join, yoke”)) + -όω (-óō, suffix forming causative or factitive verbs). By surface analysis, zygo- + -ote.

Derived terms

hemizygote, hypnozygote, prezygote, zygotal, zygotelike, zygotic, zygotically, zygotoblast, zygotoid, zygotomere

Related terms

dizygotic, monozygotic, zygosity, zygotene