hemigynous

H4E1M3I1G2Y4N1O1U1S1

adjective

Having characteristics of both male and female of the species but the sexual organs for one gender only.

OriginAncient Greek ἡμι- →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectivehemigynous (not comparable)
  1. not comparableobsoletebiologyHaving characteristics of both male and female of the species but the sexual organs for one gender only.

    Hemigynous Specimen of Acronycta leporina.

    1872 March 18, “Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society, March 18, 1872”, in The Entomologist, page 267
    2 more examples

    Since the above was written, I find that the hemigynous insects require a more careful examination than I had found leisure to bestow on them, […]

    1851, Edward Newman, “On the Word Hermaphrodite”, in The Zoologist

    The female characters may be assumed on the head (gynaecocephalous), afterwards on the thorax (hemigynous), and finally on the elytra.

    1901, Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society [of Great Britain], page 413

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἡμι-
  2. Englishhemigynous

From Ancient Greek ἡμι- (hēmi-) + γυνή (gunḗ) + -ous.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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