sauro-|ˈsɔːrəʊ|before a vowel saur-, combining form of Gr. σαῦρο-ς lizard, entering into many scientific terms. saurodont|ˈsɔːrəʊdɒnt|, Palæont.[Gr. ὀδοντ- tooth]a., of or pertaining to the Saurodontidæ, an extinct family of fishes; n., a fish of this family. saurography[-graphy], ‘term for a description of the saurian reptiles’ (Mayne Expos.Lex. 1858). saurophagous|sɔːˈrɒfəgəs|, a.Ornith.[see -phagous], eating or feeding on lizards and other reptiles (Ibid. and in recent Dicts.). saurophidian|sɔːrəʊˈfɪdɪən|[see ophidian]a., of or pertaining to the order Saurophidia of reptiles; n., a reptile of this order (used in quot. 1882 for a hypothetical reptile combining the characteristics of a lizard and a snake). sauropterygian|ˌsɔːrəʊptəˈrɪdʒɪən|, Palæont.[Gr. πτερύγιον wing, fin]a., of or pertaining to the Sauropterygia (usually called Plesiosauria), an order of extinct marine reptiles in Owen's classification (Palæont. 1860, 209); n., a reptile of this order; a plesiosaur.1896Roy.Nat.Hist. V. 486 The Extinct *Saurodonts.Ibid., All the members of the group are collectively spoken of as the saurodont fishes.1882C. C. Hopley Snakes xv. 263 We might the rather wonder if there were not..many unsuspected species of reptiles, compound ophiosaurians, or *saurophidians in those inaccessible depths.1861Owen Monogr. Fossil Reptilia Kimmeridge Clay i. 15 The huge dimensions of the present species of short-necked *Sauropterygian.1865― Fossil Reptilia Liassic Format. iii. 17 There is no sufficient ground for encumbering the Sauropterygian group with one or two additional generic names.
sauro- combining form see saur-
sauro-
saur- (found before vowels, as in saurischian)
IPA: /sɔːɹoʊ̯/, /sɔːɹə/
Prefix
lizard
Etymology
New Latin prefix (derived from Greek), coined for scientific words such as the infraorder name Sauropoda, from Greek sauros, "lizard" + New Latin suffix (derived from Greek) -poda, "foot(ed)"