theco-|θiːkəʊ|erroneously theca-, combining form of Gr. θήκη case, receptacle (see theca), used in Botany and Zoology. thecoˈdactyl(e[Gr. δάκτυλος digit], a. having thick toes whose transverse scales furnish a sheath for the claw, as in some lizards; n. a gecko of this type (Ogilvie 1882); so thecoˈdactylousa.thecoˈglossatea.[Gr. γλῶσσα tongue], having a smooth tongue furnished with a sheath, as the Thecoglossæ, a group of lizards. ˈthecophore[-phore], (a) a surface or receptacle bearing a theca or thecæ (Webster 1864); (b) the stalk which in some flowers supports the ovary; = gynophore 1. thecoˈsomate, thecoˈsomatousadjs.[Gr. σῶµα body], belonging to the Thecosomata, a group of pteropods having the body sheathed in a mantle-skirt; so ˈthecosome, a thecosomatous pteropod. ˈthecospore, a spore produced in a theca, an ascospore; hence theˈcosporala., pertaining to a theospore; ˈthecospored, theˈcosporousadjs., having thecospores. ˈthecostome[Gr. στόµα mouth], the orifice of the hydrotheca in calyptoblastic hydroids. theˈcostomousa., having the sucking parts of the mouth enclosed in a sheath.1891Cent.Dict., *Thecodactylous..*Thecoglossate.1832Lindley Introd.Bot. i. ii. §10. 139 Sometimes the ovarium..is seated upon a long stalk... This stalk is often called the *thecaphore or gynophore.1878Bell Gegenbaur's Comp.Anat. 321 The velum is largest in the Gastropoda and the *thecosomatous Pteropoda.1888Pelseneer in Challenger Rep. XXIII. 2 The Habits of the Thecosomatous Pteropods.1890Athenæum 12 July 66/2 The *thecosomes being tornatellids modified for a swimming life.1891Cent.Dict., *Thecasporal.1858Carpenter Veg.Phys. §405 The Lichens produce conceptacles,..called apothecia,..which develope in their interior little bodies, called *thecaspores.1882J. M. Crombie in Encycl.Brit. XIV. 555/2 In various *thecaspored fungi.1879Webster Supp., *Thecasporous.1883Challenger Rep. VII. xx. 7 On either side of the hydrotheca, nearly on a level with its orifice or *thecostome.1891Cent.Dict., *Thecostomous.
theco-
before vowels thec-, word-forming element used in botany and zoology with the sense "case, capsule," from Latinized combining form of Greek theke "case, receptacle," from root of tithenai "to put, place" (see theme).