bacterivory en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek βακτηρία (baktēría) Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Ancient Greek -ῐος (-ĭos)? Ancient Greek -ιον (-ion) Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion)bor. New Latin bactēriabor. English bacteria Proto-Indo-European *gʷerh₃- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *gʷorh₃éh₂ Proto-Italic *worā Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin vorōder. English -vore English bacterivore Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Old French -ieder. Middle English -ie Middle English -y English -y English bacterivory From bacterivore + -y.
Meanings
- (uncountable) The ingestion of bacteria as food or as an energy supply