-fos

UK/fɒs/US/ˌfɑs/

suffix

Used to form names of phosphorous derivatives used as insecticides, anthelminthics, pesticides, etc.

OriginEnglish phosphorus ← Latin phōsphorus ← Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros) →
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Meanings

suffix

alternative fos- · alternative -fos-

  1. medicineUsed to form names of phosphorous derivatives used as insecticides, anthelminthics, pesticides, etc.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
  8. Proto-Hellenic*pʰérō
  9. Ancient Greekφέρω (phérō)
  10. Ancient Greekφωσφόρος (phōsphóros)
  11. Latinphōsphorus
  12. Englishphosphorus
  13. English-fos

From phosphorus.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-fos. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-fos

MLA

“-fos.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-fos. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-fos,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-fos.

Source: -fos on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.